G B 

TO 5 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
rNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

(jfKO!;' DifcECTOB 

Water-supply Papek 27 » 



WATER RESOURCES 



OF 



ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 



BY 



HARRY^ R. JOHNSON 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1911 



ffionograpk 




Book 




X 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 



10 k 



Water- Supply Paper 278 



WATER RESOURCES 



OF 






ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 



BY 



HARRY R. JOHNSON 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1911 



r\ 













CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Introduction 7 

Topography '. . . . 10 

Drainage 10 

General features 10 

Streams 12 

Lakes 14 

Climate 14 

Rainfall 14 

Temperatures « 17 

Wind 18 

Healthfulness 18 

Natural resoiu"ces 18 

Geologic features 20 

Physiography 20 

Non water-bearing rocks 22 

Metamorphic and granitic mai^^inal rocks * 22 

Unaltered sedimentary rocks 25 

Volcanic rocks 25 

Water-bearing rocks 27 

Origin and distribution 27 

Physical character 29 

Structure 30 

Sand dunes 30 

Playa deposits 31 

Water resources 31 

Influence of rainfall 31 

Surface supply 32 

Developments on Rock Creek 32 

Developments on Little Rock Creek 33 

Underground water 36 

Origin 36 

Data concerning wells 37 

West of Fairmont 37 

Vicinity of Willow Springs 37 

Vicinity of Rosamond 37 

Vicinity of Redman 38 

Vicinity of Reid ranch 38 

Vicinity of Oliver Miller's ranch 39 

Vicinity of Lancaster 39 

Vicinity of Coleman's ranch 42 

Vicinity of Esperanza 42 

Vicinity of Palmdale 43 

Vicinity of Oban 43 

Vicinity of Del Sur 43 

3 



4 CONTENTS. 

Water resources — Continued. 

Underground water — Continued. Page. 

Other data 44 

Distinction between artesian and nonartesian waters 44 

Artesian waters 45 

Flowing area 45 

Nonflowing area 46 

Variations in water level 46 

Artesian springs / 47 

Buckhorn Springs 47 

Spring southwest of Lancaster 48 

Indian Springs 49 

Willow Springs 49 

Nonartesian waters 51 

Distribution , 51 

Nonartesian springs 52 

Springs of Antelope Buttes 52 

Lovejoy (Croswell) Springs 52 

Moody Springs 53 

Bedrock springs 53 

Springs on southwest slope of Tehachapi Range 53 

Gerblick Spring 53 

Barrell Spring ~ 54 

Newquist ranch springs 54 

Springs on Mrs. Dahl's ranch 54 

Spring at Keeves ranch 54 

Spring at Simmons's ranch 54 

Mulford (?) Spring 55 

Springs at Geier's ranch 55 

Neenach water supply 55 

Spring at La Liebre ranch house 55 

Chemical character of ground waters : 55 

Origin 55 

Analyses 56 

Formation of alkali 57 

Quantity of dissolved solids 58 

Hygienic conditions 59 

Fallacies regarding underground waters 59 

Suppositional sources 59 

Use of the "water witch " 61 

Inexhaustibility of artesian supply 61 

Present economic development 62 

Number of wells 62 

Nonartesian wells 62 

Artesian wells .' 62 

Pumping plants 63 

Cost of wells 63 

Examples of well development 63 

Post ranch. 63 

Marigold ranch 65 

Coleman ranch 6L 

Other ranches 65 

Abuse of artesian resources 66 

Future economic development 67 

Maps and well data 68 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page. 

Plate I. Outline map of southern California 8 

II. ^, Yuccas on Mohave River south of Rancho Verde; B, Mud flow 

from cloud-burst in canyon of Midway oil district, California... 18 

III. A, Faulted, folded, and overturned alluvial beds near head of 

Cajon Canyon; 5, Gravel inface about 6 miles east of Tilghman . 30 

IV. Well sections and diagram showing probable underground condi- 

tions at Lancaster and vicinity, as indicated by well logs 40 

V. A^ Palmdale reservoir, looking northwest; B, San Andreas fault 

trace near Anaverde ranch, looking northwest 42 

VI. Reconnaissance hydrographic map of Antelope Valley region, 

California In pocket. 

VII. A, Type of well drilling rig used in Antelope Valley; B, Inserting 

perforated casing in partly completed artesian well 62 

Figure 1. Diagram showing probable block and fault systems of the Antelope 

Valley region 22 

2. Section of Antelope Buttes, showing attitude of tuffs and lava and 

their relations to granitic rocks 26 

3. Diagrammatic plan and sections of alluvial fan, showing arrange- 

ment of debris 28 

4. Diagram sho'VN'ing artesian conditions in Antelope Valley 36 

5. Sketch map of Lancaster and vicinity, showing location of wells. . 41 

6. Diagrams showing possible origin of Buckhom Springs 48 

7. Sketch map of Willow Springs and vicinity 49 

8. Diagrams showing possible origin of Willow Springs 50 

9. Diagram showing the origin of Lovejoy Springs 52 

10. Diagram showing possible origin of Gerblick Spring 54 

11. Sketch map of Post ranch 64 

5 



WATER RESOURCES OF THE ANTELOPE VALLEY, 

CALIFORNIA. 



By Harry R. Johnson. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Before the problem of making productive the waste spaces of the 
great West had been attacked with the vigor which during the last 
20 years has wrought so great a change in portions of the western 
States and Territories, the term ''desert," carrying a picture of utter 
desolation — of miles of treeless sand or, at best, of waterless sage- 
brush plains and barren mountains — was applied to great stretches 
of country having unrecognized potentialities, so that the idea be- 
came fixed in the pubhc mind that such areas were practically worth- 
less. This idea was reflected in the maps of the period, on which 
vast areas having vaguely defined Hmits were labeled ''desert." 
Thus an extensive region in southeastern California lying east of the 
southern end of the Sierra Nevada and of the Tehachapi Range and 
north of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino ranges became known 
as the Mohave Desert. This great area, however, lying between the 
more favored coastal region south of the Sierra Madre and the agri- 
cultural and mining districts of the San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada, 
and Colorado River, became in time the highway of overland travel, 
and its true character gradually became better known. Potable 
underground waters were discovered, the desert's agricultural value 
was recognized, settlement was begun, and the available surface 
water supplies were developed. With the growth of fixed population, 
distinctive names were appHed to different parts of what was origi- 
nally known merely as "the desert." Thus an area extending along 
the north side of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino ranges in the 
southwestern part of the region became known as Antelope Valley. 
At first the extent of this valley was not clearly outlined, but during 
recent years its limits have become more strictly defined. In like 
manner, the term "Mohave Valley" is applied even to-day, rather 
elastically, to the broad alluvial region on both sides of Mohave 
River from the margin of the San Bernardino Range northward. 

7 



8 WATER RESOURCES OP ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

The rapid development of southern Cahfornia in the early eighties, 
soon after the completion of the Santa Fe Railroad, brought a large 
number of eastern people to the region. Land values, already high, 
soon became greatly inflated, and realty speculations passed all 
reasonable bounds. Partly as a reaction from this condition in the 
Los Angeles region and partly as an expression of the promoters' 
abundant confidence, Antelope Valley, with its large area of cheap 
lands, was invaded by intending settlers, most of whom knew little 
or nothing of the peculiar limitations of development in arid 
Cahfornia. 

At this time and for a few years afterward Antelope Valley was 
developed rapidly rather than wisely. Of the towns then estabhshed, 
several now exist only in memory. Of Hispaniola, in T. 9 N., R. ,16 
W., but a few posts bearing street names remain; Tierra Bonita, a 
few miles east of Palmdale, has vanished; the site of Almondale, 
farther south, with its complex system of avenues and a former 
population of over 200 people, is marked now by a dilapidated brick 
house and barn. Many ranch houses erected here and there in the 
valley at that time have been deserted for years. 

Most of these early settlers were victims of the promoter's wiles, of 
their own lack of caution and foresight, and of their general ignorance 
of local features and conditions, especially of water supply and chmate. 
In the settlements near the west end of the valley it was generally 
believed that the winter rainfall would be sufficient for crops and 
pasturage, and that water for domestic uses could be had only a few 
feet below the ground surface, as in the eastern lands from which 
most of the settlers had come. When it was found that the normal 
winter rainfall was at most 6 or 8 inches, and that around the margin 
of the valley water obtainable by wells lay in many places 100 feet or 
more below the valley floor, farming without irrigation was admitted 
to be impossible and one by one the homesteads were abandoned. 

Such localities as Almondale, or old Palmdale, which depended for 
their prosperity on water brought from Rock and Little Rock creeks, 
have a similar history. Thousands of dollars were spent in improve- 
ments, and crops were planted and even brought to maturity before it 
was realized that the costly systems had been built without definite 
knowledge of the supply of available water, which proved totally 
inadequate when the dry seasons came. 

These disastrous and unnecessary failures stopped for a time all 
growth in the valley, but development has lately taken a more satis- 
factory direction. With a frank recognition of the agricultural and 
climatic limitations of the region as compared with other parts of 
California has come a realization of the value of the artesian waters 
which, though long known to exist, had previously been usefully 
employed in only a few localities. 



, S. GiOlOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 278 PLATE I 




SKETCH MAP OF PART OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SHOWING POSITION OF ANTELOPE VALLEY 



INTRODUCTION. ^ V 

Even now comparatively little of the water thus available is used 
to its fullest extent, and the most important problem confronting the 
settler in and near the flo\ving-well area of the valley is not where the 
water can be found, but how it shall be used to the best advantage. 

The most hopeful phase of present utilization of water in the region 
is the increasing use of pumping plants, which makes possible the culti- 
vation of lands around the margin of the artesian areas, where the soils 
are as a ride less alkaline than those in the lower part of the valley. 

During this later period of development the settlements that sur- 
vived the collapse of the earlier boom, as well as those of more recent 
establislunent, have been benefited by the increased agricultural 
output. Of these settlements, Lancaster, on the Southern Pacific 
Railroad, a town of about 400 po])ulation, is the most important, for 
the most notable increase in the use of pumped waters for irrigation 
has taken place near that town. Other settlements are Rosamond, 
near the north margin of the valley; Palmdale, about 10 miles south 
of Lancaster; Little Rock, in a fruit-growing section at the mouth of 
Little Rock Canyon; Willow Springs, an oasis in the dry plains, some 
miles west of Rosamond; Fairmont, Del Sur, Neenach, and Manzana, 
along the road between Lancaster and Gorman station; North 
Portal, the temporary headquarters for operations at the north end of 
the Elizabeth Lake tunnel, under construction as a part of the new 
Los Angeles water-supply system; and Redman ranch, the head- 
quarters of a newly established colony in the eastern part of the 
valley. 

The investigation of ground-water supplies in Antelope Valley, re- 
ported on herein, is only an extension of work carried on during the 
last 10 years by the United States Geological Survey — work that 
has comprised rather detailed studies of underground water in the 
part of southern California south of the San Gabriel and San Bernar- 
dino ranges and has resulted in the publication of a number of 
reports.^ (See PL I.) 

The maps that accompany this report are necessarily of reconnais- 
sance nature and have been prepared from various official and private 
sources supplemented by notes made in the field by the author. 
Wliere insufficient data were available, the locations of wells and 
other cultural features may have been incorrectly made, but it is 
believed that in general the maps are fairly trustworthy. 

The usefulness of such a report as is here presented depends very 
largely on the information and aid given by the people of the region 
under investigation, and the writer desires to express his indebtedness 
to the many persons who have assisted him in preparing his paper. 

1 Water-Supply Papers U, S. Geol, Survey Nos. 59, 60, 112, 137, 138, 139, 142, 219, 225. 



10 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

Antelope Valley is in the southwestern part of the Mohave Desert, 
lying between the rugged mass of the San Gabriel and the northwest 
end of the San Bernardino ranges on the south and the Tehachapi 
Range on the west. The Tehachapi and San Gabriel ranges present 
bold and in many places precipitous faces toward the desert, but 
from a point near Palmdale northwestward the subsidiary hills 
known as Portal Ridge help to lessen the contrast between the steep 
San Gabriel Range and the flat Antelope Valley. 

The lowest part of this depression, lying at an elevation of about 
2,300 feet, is occupied by Rosamond, Buckhorn, and Rogers dry 
lakes, and the surface of the valley slopes toward this area with a 
grade that decreases with distance from the mountains. The margin 
of the valley lands ranges in elevation from 2,600 feet along the 
south foot of the Rosamond Buttes to more than 4,000 feet on the 
Tehachapi flanks. The vaUey is an undulating brush-covered plain 
except for barren steep-sided buttes and ridges which rise islandUke 
above the level land and wliich are typified by the Sand Hills just 
southwest of Cottonwood Creek Wash; by Antelope Buttes, near Fair- 
mont; by Little Buttes, about halfway across the valley between 
Del Sur and Willow Springs; by Quartz HiU, about 5 miles south- 
west of Lancaster; by a butte at the northwest end of Buckhorn dry 
lake; and, in the eastern part of the valley, by many sand dunes. 

The irregular distribution of some of the marginal buttes has pro- 
duced corresponding irregularities in the outhne of the valley lands, 
so that in many places tongues of aUuvial material extend away 
from the main depression in among the buttes for a considerable 
distance. Such a tongue is the open stretch or pass of irregular 
width between Antelope Valley and Mohave Valley, along the flank 
of the San Gabriel Range. 

DRAINAGE. 

GENERAL FEATURES. 

The outline of Antelope Valley is determined on the south and 
west respectively by the position of the crests of the San Gabriel and 
Tehachapi Ranges and is fairly definite, for these ranges have con- 
siderable elevation and their sumimit Hnes are continuous and clearly 
marked. Toward the north and east, however, the position of the 
divides is at present less certainly known. Between the edge of the 
Tehachapi Range near Cottonwood Creek and the west end of Rosa- 
mond Buttes near Willow Springs, there is a stretch of detrital mate- 
rial 8 to 10 miles wide which extends northeastward along the 
Tehachapi flank. This area was visited only in the neighborhood 
of Willow Springs, but it is beheved to be a part of the drainage basin 



DRAINAGE. 11 

of Antelope Valley, although the streams at its northeast end may 
possibly drain toward the town of Mohave and out toward the 
northeast. The somewhat similar arm of the valley extending 
from Palmdale southeastward along the flank of the San Gabriel 
Range for a number of miles probably marks the divide between 
Mohave River and the Antelope Valley drainage basin. Thus, though 
it is known that practically all the waters of Rock and Little Rock 
creels, except the parts lost by evaporation, find their way eventually 
into the Antelope Valley basin, it is not so certain that the streams 
farther east, which debouch upon the alluvium from the San Gabriel 
Range, ever reach Antelope Valley. 

The volume of these more easterly streams is, however, unim- 
portant, and as they flow northward they distribute their waters 
among the many buttes so that their channels can not be continuously 
traced. Undoubtedly Turner dry lake ultimately receives the dis- 
charge of some of these streams, and others, as the Oro Grande 
Wash, may swing toward the east and find their way into the basin 
of Mohave River. 

It is beheved that for the purposes of this report a fine drawn from 
a point about 6 miles east of Tilghman northward through Black 
Butte and then approximately along the county fine somewhat east 
of north toward Haystack Butte may be considered the divide 
between the Antelope Valley drainage basin and that of Mohave River. 

Although in its general features Antelope Valley resembles the 
Mohave Desert, its position at the immediate base of the Tehach- 
api and Sierra Madre ranges modifies favorably the amount and 
quahty of the waters which reach the lowlands. Some of the streams 
flowing from these higher ranges are perennial and all supply 
better water than the smaller streams that flow from the buttes of 
the desert proper. The two ranges are so high that their snow cover 
often remains until midsummer and maintains a continuous though 
gradually diminishing flow of water. On the other hand, the region 
is prevented by its position on the landward side of the ranges from 
receiving the benefit of the heavy winter precipitation and consequent 
heavy run-off of the more favored southern and western slopes. 

In general the streams of Antelope Valley flow at right angles to 
the trend of the mountains in which they originate; most of these 
streams converge toward Oban, and thence, though their channels 
are less clearly defined, sweep toward the northeast and empty into 
the Rosamond dry lake, or its extensions, the Buckhorn and Rogers 
dry lakes. 

The drainage fines north and east of the Rogers dry lake are 
unknown to the writer; most of the maps of the Mohave Desert 
region so far published are much generalized and they are not con- 
sistent, but a study of several of them indicates that a depression may 



12 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

extend from the north end of the Rogers dry lake northeastward 
and eastward toward the Barstow region and about parallel with the 
Santa Fe Railway. On the other hand, the Rogers dry lake may 
be completely inclosed on the north by metamorphic and granitic 
marginal rocks. (See pp. 22-24.) 

Probably the most striking feature of drainage in Antelope Valley, 
as elsewhere in the arid West, is the sudden diminution in flow of all 
the streams as they enter the valley itself. Thus, except during 
periods of heavy precipitation, the streams without exception sink 
beneath the gravels of the valley at a distance of not more than 3 
miles from the mouths of their canyons. When the region was 
visited, in the early winter, many of these streams were flowing 
quite heavily, but even at this time of the year no flowing surface 
water was found in the valley below an elevation of 2,500 feet, 
except what came from artesian wells and springs. 

STREAMS. 

None of the streams in the valley are large and only a few are 
worthy of mention. Those of the northern slope of the San Gabriel 
Range and the southeast slope of the Tehachapi are all short, with 
the exception of a few which have worked their way back far enough 
into the ranges to become important as water carriers. Of these 
Rock, Little Rock, and Amargosa creeks are the more important. 

The main fork of Rock Creek rises in the rugged region north of 
North Baldy, at an elevation of 6,500 feet above sea level, and 
the uppermost tributaries of its south branch, which drains the 
region immediately north of Mount Islop, head at an elevation of 
fully 8,000 feet. The creek flows northwestward past Shoemaker's 
ranch to the northwest corner of T. 4 N., R. 9 W., where it turns 
northward to the gravelly margin of Antelope Valley. Here it 
breaks into several distributaries which diverge from the apex of 
the alluvial fan built up by the stream itself. The more or less 
constant flow of Rock Creek is utihzed by irrigation canals that 
extend for some distance east and west from the mouth of the canyon. 
(See pp. 33-34.) 

Little Rock Creek, which rises in the high granitic mountain country 
in T. 3 N., R. 10 W., flows northwestward and enters Antelope Valley 
near Little Rock, in the northeast quarter of T. 5 N., R. 11 W. The 
channel of this creek in Antelope Valley is better preserved than that 
of any of the other streams and it is traceable almost to the vicinity 
of C. N. Reid's ranch, nearly 7 miles east of Lancaster. Here, however, 
the channel begins to lose its character and is not easily followed 
farther toward the Rosamond dry lake. The waters of this stream 
are used to irrigate lands adjacent to the settlement of Little Rock. 



DRAINAGE. 13 

Amargosa Creek, which enters Antelope Valley about 3 miles west 
of Palmdale, is the only stream with even moderate flow between 
Little Rock Creek and the extreme west end of Antelope Valh^y. 
It was not visited, but it is understood to possess little value as a 
source of surface irrigation waters, as it heads somewhat below the 
snow line in the San Gabriels and its flow is therefore inconstant. 

A number of streams which, though draining rather small areas, 
carry considerable water, rise at the west end of Antelope Valley, 
between the junction of the Tehachapi and San Gabriel ranges. 
These streams are fed by copious springs which are particularly 
numerous at the southwestern end of the Tehachapi Range near the 
foot of the steep slopes. The largest of these creeks is called the 
Little Cottonwood, and, at the time it was visited, it flowed as far 
east as the east line of sec. 1, T. 8 N., R. 17 W. No accurate meas- 
urements of any of these springs or creeks are available. The large 
spring at Liebre ranch flows 1,500 gallons per hour. 

Between Little Cottonwood and Cottonwood creeks are Fish, 
Livsey, Tierra Seca, and Little Oak creeks, each less than 5 miles long, 
but a source of considerable water even in the summer time. It is 
stated that the drainage basins of these streams contain large springs 
which furnish much of the stream water that eventually finds its way 
into the gravels in this part of the Antelope Valley. 

Cottonwood Creek, the most important stream flowing into Ante- 
lope Valley from the Tehachapi Range, rises at an elevation of over 
6,000 feet above sea level at a point some 8 miles west of Knecht's 
ranch, which is practically at the apex of the great alluvial fan built 
by this stream below the mouth of its canyon. Since this fan was 
deposited, the erosional ability of the creek has been changed, either 
through uplift or climatic oscillations, so that it has carved a sharply 
defined gulch in its own fan. In the northeast corner of T. 9 N., R. 
15 W., this gulch is a prominent feature, but farther down in its 
course the stream, previously confined within a single channel, 
begins to distribute itself over a later alluvial fan which was apparently 
built up out of the loose gravels removed from its older delta. This 
portion of the Cottonwood Creek drainage is known locally as the 
Cottonwood Wash. Measurements of the flow of Cottonwood Creek 
are not available, but at the time the creek was visited water was 
running freely almost to the old road crossing near the stone hut in 
sec. 2, T. 9 N., R. 15 W. 

At the west end of Rosamond Buttes a sharply marked gulch 
extends from a point due north of and near Willow Springs. It is 
not known to just what drainage this gulch belongs, but it is 
probably a distributary of the stream which flows southward along 
the W. i of T. 10 N., R. 13 W. Other stream channels in the Rosa- 
mond Buttes are mere paths for storm waters. 



14 WATER RESOUECES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFOENIA. 

LAKES. 

Lakes and ponds, most of them intermittent in character, exist at a 
number of points in and near Antelope Valley. 

The most permanent — Hughes and Elizabeth lakes — lie in depres- 
sions in an alluvial trough coinciding with the San Andreas fault zone. 
Elizabeth Lake receives the drainage of a small area in the surround- 
ing hills and may be fed by springs. Its waters remain fairly fresh, 
however, for at the northwest end it overflows occasionally through 
a meandering channel into the smaller Hughes Lake, which in turn 
feeds the headwaters of a southward-flowing stream that is a part of 
the Santa Clara drainage. 

Of somewhat similar character, except that they lie in completely 
inclosed depressions and are usually dry during part of the year, 
are Quail Lake, near the west end of Antelope Valley, and the Palm- 
dale reservoir, which was a closed depression even before the present 
levee and dam construction was undertaken. The existence of these 
lakes depends entirely on peculiar structural conditions to be de- 
scribed later (pp. 20-22). 

Intermittent lakes of another type are formed in the lowest portions 
of the broader alluvial basins by the addition of such flood waters from 
the surrounding drainage area as have not been absorbed en route by 
the gravels of the basin. In this arid region such waters, combined 
with those due to upward leakage, usually hold in solution con- 
siderable saline material, and on their evaporation leave the salts 
as an incrustation within and about the margin of the dry lakes 
These lake or '^playa" deposits are nearly level and form a smooth 
hard surface which, as in the Rogers dry lake, extends for many 
miles. Except during the hardest storms the lakes rarely contain 
water, unless where the ground-water plane approaches sufficiently 
near the surface to produce small scattered pools and damp spots of 
alkali-charged waters. Several such lakes of minor importance 
occur southeast of Antelope Valley. 

CLIMATE. 

RAINFALL. 

Climatologic data, except rainfall records, are meager for the 
Antelope Valley region. The records kept at Manzana, in the west- 
ern part of the valley and at Palmdale, in the south-central portion, 
form a fair basis for judging the amount of precipitation in othei 
sections of the valley. It is a general rule in the more arid inland 
parts of California that precipitation decreases with elevation. 
Hence it is probable that the rainfall in the vicinity of the Eosamond 
and Rogers dry lakes is somewhat less than at Manzana and Palm- 
dale. Precipitation throughout this region occurs almost wholly 



CLIMATE. 



15 



during the winter, the occasional summer storms being usually in the 
form of cloudbursts, during which several inches of rain may fall in 
a short time.^ The available rainfall records are presented in the 



following tables: 



1901-2 a 
1902-3.. 
1903-4.. 



Rainfall records for Antelope Valley region. 

PALMDALE IIEADWORKS. 

[Elevation, 3.299 feet.] 



Years. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


Annual 


1896-97 


0.25 
.03 
02 
.00 
.00 
.00 


1.35 

1.57 

.05 

.00 

.00 

33 


0.32 
T. 
.00 
.00 
.00 
T. 


1.42 

.86 
.00 
1.28 
.20 
.32 


0.43 
.00 
T. 
.27 

1.79 
.04 


0.98 
.14 
.87 
.32 
.00 
.00 


3.78 
2.38 
1.00 

.05 
1.34 

(a) 


3.71 
.07 
.31 
.00 

4.50 
(a) 


1.31 
.90 
.97 
.80 
.38 

(a) 


0.04 
.00 
.00 
.57 
.15 
(a) 


0.32 
.21 
.00 
.76 
T. 
(a) 


0.00 
.00 
,00 
.00 
.00 
(«) 


13.91 


1897-98 


6.16 


1898-99 


3.22 


1899-1900 


4.65 


1900-1901 


8.36 


1 oni -2 










7.26 






















i 







PALMDALE. 
[Elevation 2,657 feet.] 



(a) 
0.00 



(a) 
0.00 



0.00 



(a) 
0.00 



(a) 
0.00 



(°) 



0.36 



0.05 



2.58 



2.00 



0.00 



MANZANA. 
[Elevation, 2,870 feet.] 



1894-95 


0.00 
.00 
T. 
T. 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 


0.10 
.00 

1.04 
.28 
.00 
.00 
.08 
.65 
.00 


0.49 
.00 
.00 
.00 
T. 
.00 
.10 
T. 
.03 


0.00 
.40 
.01 
.21 
.00 

L27 
.09 

2.02 

1.99 


0.00 
.48 
.30 
T. 
T. 
.71 

2.55 
.20 

L78 


3. GO 
.18 

1.46 
.14 
.50 
.29 
.00 
T. 


2.79 
1.09 
2.70 
1.70 
1.15 
1.11 
3.20 
.67 
.60 


0.00 
0.00 
3.04 

.02 

T. 

.10 
6.68 
1.52 

.96 


1.36 

1.70 

1.71 

.47 

1.35 

.93 

.25 

1.14 

3.02 


0.08 
.63 
.04 
.00 

.04 
.42 
.61 


T. 
T. 
0.01 
.25 
.09 
.38 
.12 


0.00 
.00 
T. 
.00 
.04 
.00 
.00 
T. 


8.42 


1895-96 


4.48 


1896-97 


10.91 


1897-98 


3.07 


1898-99 


3.17 


1899-1900 


5.21 


1900-1901 


13.68 


1901-2 


6.20 


1902-3 


3.46 


.00 


U.84 


1903-4 o 
































Mean. 


7.44 































LITTLE BEAR VALLEY (SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS). 
[Elevation, 5,150 feet.] 



1893-94 


(«) 
0.04 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
(a) 


(a) 

0.31 

.00 

.10 

.00 

(«) 
(a) 


L21 
.52 
.00 
.00 
.46 
(a) 

(«) 


1.49 
.38 
.00 
2.30 
4.10 
T. 
(«) 


2.55 
.00 
2.65 
1.38 
.76 
.62 
(«) 


7.61 
20.12 
1.75 
1.98 
1.20 
.74 
(a) 


2.48 
15.27 
2.38 
5.16 
3.80 
(a) 
1.39 


2.25 

2.01 

T. 

11.74 

1.38 

(o) 

.43 


3.16 

8.82 
4.21 
10.17 
2.49 
(a) 
3.42 


0.62 

1.31 

1.72 

.03 

.25 

(a) 

3.11 


1.34 
.00 
.47 
.15 

4.56 
(a) 

4.63 


.12 
.00 
.00 
.20 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 


22.83 


1894-95 


48.78 


1895-96 


13.18 


1896-97 

1897-98 


33.21 
20.00 


1898-99 




1899-1900 








Mean. 


27.60 































a No record. 



1 On Aug. 16, 1896, there was a cloud-burst at Harold station in which 5 inches of raia fell in two hours. 
Eighteenth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, pt. 4, p. 403. 



16 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Rainfall records for Antelope Valley region — Continued. 

BARSTOW. 
[Elevation, 2,150 feet.] 



Years. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept- 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June.! Annual. 

i 


1890-91 














0.00 
(b) 

.11 

.02 
1.06 

.16 
2.15 

(b) 


2.47 
(b) 
.27 
.21 
.00 
.00 
.65 
(b) 


T. 

C) 
0.77 
.06 
.20 
.08 
.11 
(b) 


0.05 
(b) 
.06 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
(^) 


T. 

(b) 
T. 

0.22 
.00 
.00 
.00 

(b) 


0.00 

{b) 

.00 

T. 

.00 

.00 

.00 

(b) 


a 2.52 


1891-92 


T. 

1.10 
T. 

.07 
T. 


0.06 

.00 
.34 

.87 


0.08 

(&) 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 


0.00 

(&) 

.22 

.00 

.00 

1.55 

(b) 


T. 

T. 
.00 
T. 
.25 


0.25 

(&) 

.72 

.92 

.00 

.30 


a. 39 


1892-93 




1893-94 

189^95 


2.55 
2 52 


1895-96 


.24 


1896-97 


5.95 


1897-98 




1898-99 1 




1899-19001 , 




























1900-1901 1 




























1901-2 1 




























1902-3 


.00 
.40 
.00 


T, 
T. 
T. 


.50 
.00 
.00 


.00 
.00 
.00 


.00 

.00 

.90 

2.00 


.00 
T. 
T. 
T. 


.50 

T. 

1.10 

.65 


.55 
.30 
.50 
T. 


1.00 
.10 

3.50 
.00 


.10 
.00 
.40 
.25 


.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 


T. 

.00 
.00 

(b) 




1903-4 


.90 


1904-5 


5.90 


1905-6 


1.80 


1906-7 




















Mean for 8 
years 


2.85 































a Half-year record. b No record. 

Monthly and annual mean precipitation at Mohave (elevation, 2,751 feet). 



Years. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


Annual. 


1877-78 


0.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.71 
T. 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
T. 
.00 

1.04 
.00 
.00 
.12 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 


0.00 
.10 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.81 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 

1.75 
.00 
.00 
.30 
.00 
.00 


0.00 
.29 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.27 
.70 
.33 
.00 
.00 

"."66' 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.01 

.00 

.00 

T. 

.00 

.00 

.00 


0.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
T. 
.00 
.10 
.13 
.00 
T. 
.95 
.00 

2.21 
.00 
.03 
.00 
.29 
.00 
.80 
.70 
.00 
.00 
.68 
.00 
.52 
T. 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 


0.00 
.32 
.42 
.00 
T. 
.00 
.00 
.31 

1.25 
.76 
.56 

2.18 
.45 

2.15 
.00 
.27 
.15 
T. 
.14 
.17 
.00 
.00 
.88 

1.66 
.07 
.84 
.00 
.00 

1.25 
.65 


2.38 

1.07 

4.16 

1.03 

T. 

.00 

.25 

1.59 

1.16 

.08 

1.06 

2.23 

7.30 

.67 

.76 

.56 

.88 

3.68 

.00 

.82 

.00 

.29 

.31 

.00 

.00 

.21 

.00 

.60 

.00 

2.25 


1.22 
.62 
.40 
.00 
.05 
.00 

1.77 
.00 

1.49 
T. 

2.62 
.35 
.85 
.00 

1.00 

2.73 
.48 

2.66 

1.31 

1.86 
.60 
.37 
.31 
.73 
.17 
.02 
.00 
.70 

1.00 
(a) 


1.74 
.05 
.50 
.00 
.58 
.00 

5.69 
.06 
T. 

4.09 

1.56 
.03 
.58 

2.33 
.47 
.26 
.54 
.53 
.00 

1.17 
T. 
.00 
.00 

3.18 
.86 
.50 
.76 

1.60 

1.00 
(a) 


0.30 

.00 

.71 

.06 

.00 

.00 

2.17 

.00 

1.22 

.00 

1.75 

3.43 

.00 

.19 

1.61 

1.53 

.24 

1.01 

1.45 

.82 

.00 

.48 

T. 

.00 

.14 

.35 

1.20 

2.90 

2.00 

(a) 


0.76 
.22 
.60 
.18 
.00 
.00 
.61 
.61 
.14 
.14 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.36 

"'.'is" 

T. 
.00 

'.'66' 

.00 
.00 
.21 
.00 
T. 

1.00 
.00 
.00 

1.50 
(a) 


0.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
T. 
.00 
.14 
.00 
.00 
.00 
T. 
.00 
.00 
.26 
.00 
.03 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
T. 
.42 
.28 
.00 
.00 
.00 
T. 
T. 
(a) 


0.02 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 

1.05 
.00 
T. 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.22 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
(a) 


6.42 


1878-79 


2.67 


1879-80 


6.79 


1880-81 


1.27 


1881-82 


.63 


1882-83 


T. 


1883-84 


11.64 


1884-85 


2.84 


1885-86 


5.97 


1886-87 

1887-88 


5.07 
8.50 


1888-89 


8.22 


1889-90 


12.47 


1890-91 


6.40 


1891-92 


4.46 


1892-93 


5.48 


1893-94 


3.65 


1894-95 


7.88 


1895-96 


3.92 


1896-97 


5.66 


1897-98 


.60 


1898-99 


1.14 


1899-1900 


2.81 


1900-1901 


2.86 


1901-2 


3.51 


1902-3 . . . . 


2.92 


1903-4 


1.96 


1904-5 


6.10 


1905-6 


6.75 


1906-7 


(") 


Mean for 29 
years 


4.78 































a Record not available. 



The following table represents the average monthly precipitation 
during the time noted after the- name of station. In the last column 
the normal annual precipitation, so far as records indicate, is shown. 



CLIMATE. 



17 



Normal precipitation. 





Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 


Barstow, Cal., 5 
veiirs" 


0.5G 

1.39 

.90 


0.34 

2.49 

.84 


1.15 

1.G3 

.71 


0.19 

1.30 

.17 


0.00 
.40 
.03 


0.00 
.10 
.05 


0.10 
.01 
.08 


00 

.11 

.04 


0.12 
.09 
.07 


0.85 
.45 
.25 


0.58 
.5(i 
.40 


0.2;} 

1.9C 
1.26 


4.12 


Tehachapi, Cal., 
31 years 

Mohave, Cal., 31 
years 


10.49 
4.80 







a Data doubtful. 

Other records covering a period of eifijht years show that the mean 
annual precipitation at Barstow for that period is 2.85 inches. 

TEMPER ATURE S. 

The great elevation of Antelope Valley — between 2,300 feet at its 
lowest part and over 4,000 feet along portions of its margin — modifies 
the heat of this part of the Mohave Desert somewhat, though tem- 
peratures of 110° or more are not uncommon during the summer. 
The nights are usually cool, and the ^'livableness" of the region is in 
consequence greater than it otherwise would be. During the winter 
months the thermometer sometimes drops as low as 25° near the foot- 
hills and considerably lower in the valley. It is stated that on Decem- 
ber 30, 1895, one of the coldest days ever experienced in the valley, 
the temperature fell to 6° above zero near Lancaster. Ice forms not 
uncommonly, and occasionally snowstorms sweep across the whole 
extent of the valley. It is generally believed by the settlers that the 
winter temperature of the belt of low foothills along the southern 
margin of the valley is considerably higher than that of the lowlands 
to the north. Temperature records in proof of this are not available, 
but such a warm foothill belt exists elsewhere in the State where 
topographic conditions are somewhat similar. The record of tem- 
perature for Mohave, the elevation and general surroundings of which 
resemble those at the margin of Antelope Valley, are presented in the 
following table as indicating probable conditions in the valley: 

Monthly and annual mean temperature at Mohave. 
[Elevation, 2,751 feet.]. 





























An- 


Extremes. 


Years. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


nual 




































mean. 


Max. 


Min. 




op 


"F. 


"F. 


"F. 


"F. 


°F. 


"F. 


op 


"F. 


o^ 


"F. 


"F. 


° F. 


°F. 


°F. 


1891.... 


44.1 


45.0 


52.3 


60.5 


72.3 


74.4 


87.5 


89.4 


74.7 


67.6 


57.4 


46.0 


64.3 


112 


18 


1892.... 


45.9 


48.8 


54.2 


58.0 


69.0 


76.9 


84.8 


88.1 


79.5 


63.7 


54.7 


43.7 


63.9 


115 


25 


1893.... 


50.7 


48.2 


50.4 


54.7 


70.4 


76.6 


87.6 


85.4 


69.2 


60.3 


52.4 


48.3 


62.8 


106 


28 


1894.... 


41.0 


42.5 


53.7 


64.0 


69.8 


69.8 


84.0 


89.0 


76.0 


67.9 


58.3 


44.7 


63.4 


108 


16 


1895.... 


42.9 


50.2 


51.0 


59.9 


68.7 


80.3 


84.3 


85.5 


73.9 


66.1 


50.3 


42.8 


63.0 


111 


18 


1896.... 


48.5 


50.1 


53.4 


52.3 


60.8 


83.5 


88.3 


83.7 


74.1 


65.6 


52.0 


47.3 


63.3 


111 


25 


1897.... 


43.8 


43.8 


45.5 


62.1 


75.9 


80.0 


86.6 


87.5 


72.3 


60.7 


54.2 


42.3 


62.9 


113 


15 


1898.... 


37.8 


51.4 


48.3 


62.1 


63.9 


80.0 


87.8 


88.0 


78.2 


64.4 


53.3 


42.4 


63.1 


115 


16 


1899... . 


45.9 


48.3 


53.5 


61.3 


60.9 


78.9 


85.7 


75.3 


79.4 


60.7 


53.4 


45.4 


62.4 


108 


18 


1900.... 


49.1 


50.0 


54.8 


51.0 


66.8 


78.6 


83.2 


77.1 


64.2 


60.3 


54.5 


47.8 


61.1 


107 


25 


1901.... 


43.2 


46.6 


52.6 


59.2 


65.5 


76.4 


85.2 


81.0 


70.7 


63.7 


55.4 


45.7 


62.1 


108 


20 


1902.... 


45. 5 


49.7 


48.7 


54.4 


60.0 


77.1 


80.4 


76.8 


77.3 


62.2 


53.8 


42.0 


60.7 


105 


20 


1903.... 


46.5 


42.0 


49.0 


51.4 


68.7 


76.2 


83.8 


86.6 


74.2 


67. 1 ! 56. 8 


50.4 


62.7 


106 


15 


1904.... 


46.4 


53.0 


55.0 


61.0 


80.2 


82.2 


83.3 


90.8 


79.0 


66.6. 


57.2 


56.6 


67.6 


107 


23 


1905.... 


48.6 


48.4 


52.8 


60.2 


61.8 


77.4 


95.8 


90.8 


79.3 


77.0 


56.4 


46.0 


66.2 


114 


20 


1906.... 


46.9 


52.2 


54.6 


56.5 


65.2 


77.4 


91.2 


86.8 


76.6 


67.0 


49.6 


47.4 


64.3 


108 


20 



95093°— W8P 278—11- 



18 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

WIND. 

No records of the velocity or frequency of wind in the Antelope 
Valley region are available, but all who have Kved there testify that 
during the spring months the region is swept by strong winds, which 
have occasionally injured growing crops. The writer's experience is 
limited to the months of November and December, 1908, December, 
1909, and January, 1910. During a portion of this time the winds 
were not objectionable. Occasional storms from the west so filled 
the air with dust and finely comminuted alkali that it became unpleas- 
ant to work outdoors. When these winds are preceded by rain, they 
are merely disagreeable, but under other conditions and in some 
portions of the valley the finely blown particles act as might a keen 
knife upon alfalfa or other plants whose stems contain insuflSicient 
woody fiber to withstand the repeated attacks of the sand particles. 
The large areas of eolian sands on the eastern margin of the valley 
afford definite evidence of the activity of the winds. It maybe 
remarked here that the settler who has his agricultural interests most 
at heart is careful to plant hardy windbreaks, usually cottonwood or 
black locust, along the west side of his buildings. In some places 
the natural desert growth has been used for protection, rows of sage- 
brush and mesquite being left at intervals when a field is cleared for 
planting. In this way the force of the wind on the tender shoots of 
grain or alfalfa is somewhat broken until a stronger growth is made. 
Such natural windbreaks, unfortunately, are said to become harboring 
places for jack rabbits and other pests. 

t HEALTHFTJLNESS. 

This region, with its large number of sunny days in winter and its 
exceptionally dry summer climate, is, like portions of Arizona, an ideal 
place for those suffering with pulmonary complaints. Despite the 
high summer temperatures sunstroke is practically unknown, and hard 
manual labor, even in the sunshine, is neither unpleasant nor enervat- 
ing provided ordinary precautions as to diet and drink are observed. 
The general purity of the deeper ground waters must have not a little 
to do with the good health of those living in the region. 

NATURAL RESOURCES. 

Animal fife in the region studied is, with some exceptions, not now 
abundant. Jack rabbits and coyotes are a nuisance to the ranchers, 
but periodical onslaughts upon them afford sufficient protection. 
Antelope have become extinct in the lowlands and deer have almost 
disappeared from the mountains, as they afforded sport which 
appealed most strongly to the wanton instincts of the early hunters. 

Of desert plants valuable to man there are a number. In Antelope 
Valley the yucca grows both scatteringly and in thick groves of 



U. 8. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 278 PLATE M 




.■1. YUCCAS ON MOHAVE RIVER SOUTH OF RANCHO VERDE. 
See page 1 9. 




JL MUD FLOW FROM CLOUD-BURST IN CAN /^iJ uF .Vi.D.VA. 0,L U. STRICT. 

See page 28. 



NATURAL RESOURCES. 19 

fantastic appearance, and its peculiar cellular wood has been used in 
the manufacture of a fiber cloth. Some years ago the cutting and 
hauling of the wood to railroad points for shipment to the factories 
was remunerative, but cutting has been prohibited because the wind- 
break value of these trees to the valley was thus greatly impaired. 
The trunks of the trees are even yet occasionally used in fence and 
shed construction, and for fuel. In Plate II, A, a yucca thicket on 
Mohave River is shown. In some parts of the valley lands, where 
the ground waters are near enough to the surface to give a certain, 
even if very small, amount of moisture to the soil, the usual desert 
growth becomes more abundant and of great size. Such conditions 
have produced the mesquite trees along the wash of Rock Creek 
to the south and southwest of Lovejoy Buttes and in the area of 
flowing artesian wells of the valley. Tliese trees and others of the 
more woody varieties of brush furnish a fair fuel to the settlers. The 
higher portions of the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and Tehachapi 
ranges receive a greater precipitation than the valley lands and 
support a good stand of conifers and oak. 

Practically all the developed part of Antelope and Mohave valleys 
is devoted to agriculture; the undeveloped portion makes range for 
stock. In the western end of the valley, which is comparatively free 
from brush and is at present nonirrigable, a considerable area is 
planted in grain. Along the southern margin of the valley, from 
Neenach to Rock Creek, and in Leonis and Anaverde valleys, the 
almond, fruits (among which are the apple and pear) , and other prod- 
uce typical of a temperate climate are grown. The almond industry 
of the lower foothills, along the south margin of Antelope Valley, 
had its inception in the discovery that wild almonds grow in the can- 
yons of the near-by ranges. 

Wliere artesian waters have been used for irrigation in Antelope 
Valley, alfalfa, fruit, and many vegetables are grown, but much of 
this region will remain uncultivated until effective methods shall have 
been devised to remove alkali from the upper soil and subsoil. 

Of the mineral resources in the region only brief mention need be 
made. Gold has been mined in the San Bernardino, Tehachapi, and 
San Gabriel ranges, but the most productive districts at present are 
those in the Rosamond Buttes and east of Victorville. 

Plaster mills at Palmdale use in part gypsum obtained from the 
foothills southwest of the town. Limestones and fancy marbles suita- 
ble for building and for cement manufacture exist in the buttes near 
Victorville, and the ornamental portions of several of the larger office 
buildings in San Francisco are built of these marbles. Limestones 
also exist in the Tehachapi Range and in the mountains on the south- 
ern margin of Antelope Valley. 



20 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 



The volcanic breccias and ash of the Fairmont Buttes are being 
utiHzed in the Los Angeles Aqueduct as an admixture for the cement 
used in construction along the conduit. The material is quarried and 
crushed at a mill about 1 J miles northeast of Fairmont. Sodium sul- 
phate and sodium carbonate exist as efflorescent deposits in the low 
parts of the valley depressions. Near Buckhorn Springs some pros- 
pecting for these salts has been done, but no commercial development 
has been attempted. Clay suitable for pottery has been found near 
Rosamond, and brick clays exist at a number of places along the 
southern margin of Antelope Valley. 

GEOLOGIC FEATURES. 

PHYSIOGRAPHY. 

Geologic and structural conditions are so intimately related to the 
whole problem of water supply in this valley that a brief sketch of the 
history and character of the formations must precede the discussion 
of the water resources. 

Though no detailed geologic study has been made in any part of 
this region, many facts indicate that Antelope Valley is, except in its 
minor features, a faulted block along whose southern and north- 
western margins strong uplifts have resulted in the production of the 
Tehachapi, San Gabriel, and San Bernardino ranges. The Rosamond 
Buttes to the north are also probably the result of uplifts. These 
buttes seem to be separated from the valley by faults, but the heights 
east of them and the similar irregular bedrock region of low reHef east 
of Redman and north of Lovejoy Springs and Turner dry lake, appear 
to represent higher parts of the valley floor, separated from the lower 
parts beneath the valley proper only by gentle flexures. 

The first effect of the crustal deformation that produced the valley 
and its bordering heights was to stimulate erosion, and in consequence 
the valley became the receptacle for the detritus removed from the 
mountains. 

The southeast face of the Tehachapi Range is a great escarpment 
having a vertical rise of over 2,500 feet in a distance of less than 
3 miles from the edge of the alluvium. Springs along the steep base 
of the mountain mass and deformations in the Quaternary gravels 
of the valley along axes parallel to the range point to the existence 
here of an extensive fault. Though on a somewhat less grand scale, 
this southeast face of the Tehachapi Range is comparable to and may 
be a continuation of the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada, which has 
long been known as a profound fault scarp. 

Both the San Gabriel and San Bernardino ranges are even more 
readily recognizable as of structural origin than the Tehachapi. As 



GEOLOGIC FEATURES. 21 

has been shown by Mendenhall/ these ranges are bounded by faults 
along which the region of high relief has been uplifted. 

The course of the San Andreas fault, along which in various portions 
of California movement within historic times has taken place,- is 
clearly expressed on the accompanying map as a chainlikc series of 
long, narrovr, inclosed bashis or troughs constituting the depression in 
which lie Elizabeth and Hughes lakes and Leonis and Anaverde 
valleys immediately south of Portal Ridge. A view of the fault 
zone looking northwest from Anaverde Valley is shown in Plate V, B 
(p. 42). From Palmdaio southeastward along the foot of the range 
the feature is less distinct topographically, but its geologic effects 
have been no less profound. This fault crosses the San Gabriel 
Range several miles south of Cajon Pass and extends along the 
south side of the San Bernardino Range and through San Gorgonio 
Pass into the Colorado Desert. 

Mr. Homer Hamlin^ has pointed out that to an observer stationed 
on the Tehachapi Range near Cottonwood Creek a distinct linear 
arrangement of the buttes extending southeast from Willow Springs 
toward Rogers dry lake is visible, and that the general effect produced 
is that of a long, dissected fault scarp facing south. When examined 
more in detail the local conditions emphasize Mr. Hamlin's view. 
No bedrock is exposed west of the butte at Willow Springs, but the 
gentle southeast slope of the alluvial fans along the foothills of the 
Tehachapi is abruptly replaced at Willow Springs by a south-facing 
escarpment, ranging in height between 50 and 100 feet, and extending 
north 75° W., for a distance of about 5 miles. The escarpment is 
clearly of structural origin. Whether the deformation in the gravel 
deposits is due only to displacement in the hard rocks below, or to a 
line of actual fracture of the gravel beds themselves, it has resulted 
in a difference of about 100 feet between the elevation of the part of 
the plain to the north and of Antelope Valley to the south, the latter 
being the lower. More important yet in the economy of the region is 
the influence of the escarpment in determining the location of springs. 
Thus, Bean Springs, the several outflows at Willow Springs, the spring 
at Gerblick's mine, the springs on the south foot of the butte north- 
west of Rosamond, Indian Springs, and Buckhorn Springs, all coincide 
closely with a line projected from this escarpment southeastward 
along the steep south face of Rosamond Buttes. Although the eleva- 
tion of the buttes east of Indian Springs is low, this escarpment is 
none the less pronounced as far as the west margin of Rogers dry lake. 
Beyond this it appears to merge with the bedrock height of land along 

1 Mendenhall, W C, Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 219, 1908, pp. 14-18. 

2 Report of State Earthquake Investigation Commission on the California Earthquake of April 18, 1906, 
vols. 1, 2, and atlas, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D. C, 1908. 

3 Oral communication. 



22 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

the San Bernardino-Los Angeles County line, but it was not farther 
examined. The northwestward projection of the escarpment passes 
with a slight northward swing into the Tehachapi at the low portion 
of the range in T. 10 N., E. 16 W., and thence falls approximately in 
line with a fault determined by Lawson^ during his studies of the 
Tehachapi Valley system. It is noticeable that in both systems the 
uplift is on the north side of the fault. The direct bearing of this 
structural feature on the water supply of Antelope Valley gives it an 
importance second only to that of the faults resulting in the Tehachapi 
and Sierra Madre uplifts. 

The physiographic history of the buttes and heights of land east 
of the Antelope Valley is obscure. No such striking evidence of the 
origin of the region as that just presented for the Rosamond Buttes 
was found, yet erosion seems inadequate to fully explain the 
topography. It is tentatively suggested that this region of irregular 
buttes and shallow intervening valleys has been less deformed by 



Figure 1.— Diagram showing probable block and fault systems of the Antelope Valley region. 

depression or elevation than either Antelope Valley or the marginal 
ranges. 

Figure 1 is a purely theoretic representation of what are believed 
to be the main blocks and faults involved in the production of the 
larger physiographic features of the Antelope Valley region. The 
small northwestward-dipping block in front of the Portal Ridge block, 
represents the Antelope Buttes near Fairmont. As the tuffs on the 
west side of these buttes dip at angles of 35° to 55° northwestward — 
a direction at right angles to the San Gabriel fault system — it is 
assumed that the underlying granite has been tilted in accordance 
with the Tehachapi rather than the San Gabriel faults. 

NON WATER-BEARING ROCKS. 
METAMORPHIC AND GRANITIC MARGINAL ROCKS. 

In discussing the sources of the water supply and the conditions 
under which it exists, the rocks of the Antelope Valley region may be 
divided into two classes — water-bearing and nonwater-bearing. For 

1 Lawson, A. C, The geomorphogeny of the Tehachapi valley system: Bull. Dept. Geology Uni^ 
California, vol. 4, 1906, pp. 431-462. 



NON WATER-BEARING ROCKS. 23 

all practical purposes the rocks of the margin of the valley, which 
include a number of formations, are nonwater-bearing. This is true 
not only of the granitic and metamorphic rocks of the Tehachapi 
and Sierra Madre ranges and of the volcanic and granitic buttes, 
which limit the valley on the north and east, but of the older nonmet- 
amorphic sediments in parts of the region. In the strictest sense, of 
course, some of these marginal rocks do contain water, but except 
where springs or water-filled fissures exist the supply they yield is 
usually inadequate for economic use. As previously indicated, the 
alluvium of Antelope Valley rests on the extension of the marginal 
rocks. Evidence of this is found in the buttes which at Fairmont and 
between Willow Springs and Del Sur project above the valley floor. 

As the metamorphic and granitic marginal rocks make an inclosed 
basin more or less completely filled with gravel, their impervious 
character prevents the loss downward of practically any of the waters 
which may be contained in the gravels. In the time allotted to the 
field work for this report only a generalized map of the line of con- 
tact between the bedrock and the alluvial filling of the valley could 
be made, but a few notes were obtained on the character of the 
older rocks. 

The oldest rocks of the region are probably the metamorphic rocks 
of the Tehachapi and Sierra Madre ranges. In the Tehachapi these 
rocks are principally limestones which stand in bold, steep bluffs 
about the heads of the several short streams flowing from that range 
into Antelope Valley. Granitic rocks which appear to be intrusive in 
the limestones have been noted on Livsey Canyon and below Knecht's 
ranch on Cottonwood Creek. Here schists and slaty rocks, apparently 
metamorphic sediments, are associated with the limestones. The 
age of these rocks is not known, but they resemble in appearance and 
relations the great metamorphic series of the granitic complex along 
the crest of the Sierra Nevada. On the southern slope of the south- 
west end of the Tehachapi the limestones are well exposed and they 
appear to extend toward Gorman station, but they were not traced 
farther south than the boundary line between Kern and Los Angeles 
counties. Granitic rocks occur in the Sierra Pelona, but no attempt 
has been made to map them. South of Fairmont, in Portal Ridge, a 
light-colored biotitic granite which has been greatly sheared and 
crushed in consequence of severe faulting parallel to the San Andreas 
rift valley is w^ell exposed on the walls of Elizabeth Lake tunnel and at 
many points in the surrounding hills. Thence southeastward almost 
to Palmdale the bedrock series of Portal Ridge consist largely of meta- 
morphic rock with some granite. Particularly good exposures of 
various coarse metamorphic schists, both hornblende and micaceous, 
are found along the narrow ridge just northwest of Amargosa Creek 
in sec. 30, T. 6 N., R. 12 W. Quartz Hill, at the extreme northwest 



24 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

corner of the same township, is a granitic outlier which has resisted 
erosion sufficiently to become a prominent topographic feature. This 
butte near its west end exposes a basic rock, perhaps diorite, which 
should be a good road metal. Southwest of Anaverde Valley the 
main portion of the San Gabriel Range appears from a distance to 
be largely granitic. Broad zones of reddish rocks that contrast 
strongly with the gray masses of the granite are said to be intrusive 
volcanic dikes. 

The geologic conditions in the San Gabriel Range from Tilghman 
southeastward are unknown to the writer, but the wash material 
along the margin of this part of the valley and the general ap- 
pearance of the range indicate that it, too, is largely granitic and 
metamorphic. 

The buttes along the east side of the valley are, so far as visited, 
granitic and metamorphic, and in some of them the slates and schists 
of the latter series seem to predominate; others are almost entirely 
composed of a rather dark-colored and sometimes reddish biotite 
granite. Although the filling between these groups of buttes is allu- 
vial, it is probably quite thin, and all buttes and heights of land which 
characterize this part of the region are thought to be but the topo- 
graphic expression of a single underlying granitic mass, the surface of 
which lies only a moderate depth below the valley level. West of a 
line drawn approximately from the middle of T. 6 N., R. 10 W., north- 
eastward to and along the eastern margin of Rogers dry lake, the 
gravel filling of Antelope Valley probably thickens. On the geologic 
map this line is indicated in a general way by the western margin of 
the area of nonwater-bearing rocks, of which Lovejoy and Black 
buttes are a part, and though the butte region is not considered particu- 
larly favorable as a source of water supply, it is not impossible that 
potable water may be found in some of the larger depressions mapped 
as a part of the nonwater-bearing area. 

A somewhat similar condition as to possible water supply is found 
in the irregular region of buttes and depressions whose southern 
margin extends from Willow Springs eastward almost to Rogers dry 
lake. Only a few of the outcroppings of this rock mass were exam- 
ined, but it seems probable that the granitic and metamorphic rocks, 
which certainly occur in a portion of the region, are at other points 
marked by flows or extrusions of volcanic rock. The small group of 
low buttes in the northwest portion of T. 8 N., R. 13 W., and that 
about a half mile west belong to the granitic and metamorphic series, 
and their presence so far from the margin of the valley indicates a 
comparative shallowness of the basin at this point. 



NON WATER-BEARING ROCKS. 25 



UNALTERED SEDIMENTARY ROCKS. 



In certain portions of the region sedimentary rocks of unknown age 
have been found, but their relations to the bedrock series and tlieir 
lack of alteration suggest that they probably belong to the Cretaceous 
or a later period of deposition. The largest area of such rocks so far 
observed comprises a series of mucli folded yellowish-brown sand- 
stones at the extreme west end of the valley. Violent stresses, due 
to their proximity to the opposing faults of the Tehachapi and San 
Bernardino ranges, have greatly folded the beds here exposed. 
North of Quail the general trend of this series is toward the southeast, 
and immediately west of Quail structural folds are traceable for a 
short distance. This series of sandstones is overlain, apparently 
uncomformably, by a later, less coherent series of sands and gravels 
which are a part of the water-bearing rocks of the region, and at the 
line of unconformity north of the Gorman station road springy con- 
ditions prevail. Exposures of the older series, indicative ot consid- 
erable deformation, were noted along the south side of the road 
between Quail post office and Barnes ranch. No evidence of the age 
of tliis series of sandstones and shales has been found, but the degree 
of consolidation and general physical appearance suggest the lower 
Miocene or older, as it occurs in portions of the Sunset-McKittrick oil 



regions. 



VOLCANIC ROCKS. 



Immediately south of the area exhibiting this narrow strip of sedi- 
ments is a region composed of reddish or purplish brown volcanic 
rocks, which extend up the first ridges to an elevation of about 4,000 
feet. The relation of this volcanic mass to the sediments on its 
northern side is unknown, but it appears to be in part at least faulted 
against them. The volcanic rocks are well exposed on Gookin Gulch 
from its mouth southward for about a mile, where the fracturing and 
crushing of the rocks along the San Andreas fault zone obscures 
their character. 

Although some of this lava is rather cellular and shows evidence 
of having been poured out at or near the surface, tuffaceous phases 
of it do not predominate except in the Antelope Buttes near Fair- 
mont. The structural and geologic features of this particular group 
of hills are interesting and may be best explained by reference to 
figure 2. 

The more westerly butte, a, consists of beds of heavy, roughly 
stratified tuff of basaltic material, with some granitic bowlders, the 
whole series having been tilted until it dips from 35° to 55^ toward 



26 WATEE RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 



the northwest. These beds, coarse at the top, grade downward mto 
more regularly bedded gray and dirty white tuffaceous sandstones, 
which at some horizons contain indurated conglomerate layers and 
creamy-white tuff beds. The underlying granites on which these 
tuffs were deposited make up most of the easterly butte h, and just 
north of the springs, in sec. 30, T. 8 N., R. 14 W., on the west side of 
the creek, the relation between the granite and tuff is clearly shown. 
It is believed that much of the water which seeps out here is derived 
from the porous beds of the tuff series concentrated at the impervious 
granite contact. 

The flow of lava shown at a is at the northern end of the west 
butte, where it is intercalated with the heavier tuffs. A clue to its 
character is found in the presence of granite bowlders, formerly part 
of the near-by tuff, which have been almost completely surrounded 
by the lava flow. 

The source of these tuffs and the flow is unknown, but judging 
from the coarseness of the former, it is believed to have been not 
far distant. 

Although granitic rocks were noted at the east end of the Rosa- 
mond Buttes, near Indian Springs, and at points along the scarp which 

a 






FiGTJBE 2.— Section of Antelope Buttes, showing attitude of tuffs and lava at c, and their relations to 

granitic rocks at &. 

extends toward Rogers dry lake, the bulk of the buttes between 
Rosamond and Willow Springs is a pinkish to dirty yellow rhyolitic 
lava. The data at hand are insufficient to determine the source or 
extent of these rocks. 

Outcroppings of the rock are as a rule craggy and irregular, but 
where the material has been loosened by decomposition more regular 
slopes, made up of platy fragments, are common. The usual color 
of the volcanic buttes is a fine pink, but in places where the rock is 
decomposed or tuffaceous it grades into a yellowish or dirty gray. 
Where the texture is firm and jointing is not too pronounced, the 
rock makes a fair building stone; the new hotel at Rosamond and 
the cottages and other buildings at Willow Springs are built of 
rhyolite from the butte just northeast of the springs. 

The dikes intruding the granites southeast of Palmdale (p. 24) 
may be a part of the granitic complex. 



WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 27 

WATER-BEARING ROCKS. 
ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION. 

The rocks of the roj^ion which contain sufTicient water for economic 
use have been classed, irrespective of their ajj^e or character, as water- 
bearing. These rocks are composed ahnost wholl}^ of the uncon- 
sohdated gravels, ''cements," sands, and intervening clays, all of 
which have been derived from the mountain ranges of the region 
by erosion and redistributed in the lowlands. 

So far as observed, all the water-bearing rocks of the Antelope 
Valley region belong to the class of transported deposits. From the 
rather limited present knowledge of the history of the ranges of the 
surrounding region it appears that the erosional effectiveness of most 
of the smaller streams entering the valley dates from the uplift of 
the Tehachapi and Sierra Madre ranges. It is presumed that before 
this uplift these mountains, though they may have existed as a 
region of relief, were of rather moderate elevation, so that the streams 
draining them were not active. These streams were probably stimu- 
lated into great activity by the uplift or series of uplifts that caused 
the topographic differences between Aijtelope Valley and the Teha- 
chapi and San Gabriel ranges. The uplifts were probably distributed 
over a comparatively short geologic period. As the mountains 
became higher, the rainfall and the grades of the streams and their 
erosive power increased, so that steep, narrow gulches and canyons 
were cut into the sharp escarpments bounding the ranges. The 
volume of material thus ground up and removed from the mountain 
masses w^as enormous, for with torrential rainfall and steep grades 
streams have great transporting power. In the region at the south 
end of the San Joaquin Valley, about 75 miles west of Antelope 
Valley, blocks of heavy sandstone 10 or 12 feet in diameter have been 
carried from their outcrops in the mountain several miles out on 
the fiat beyond the mouths of the canyons. Such happenings as 
this are unusual, but the general result of the sudden expulsion of 
detrital material borne along in a torrential stream from a constricted 
canyon on to an open plain is to produce a fanlike deposit, the apex 
of which is just at the mouth of the canyon. These aUuvial fans, 
detrital cones, or deltas, as they are called where formed by larger 
rivers, are well-recognized features throughout the arid West. 

An ideal diagram and sections (fig. 3) of an alluvial fan have been 
prepared to show the arrangement of the debris about the mouth of 
canyons in drainage basins whose precipitation is torrential in char- 
acter. This sketch is based on a study of a number of typical fans 
in the San Joaquin Valley, but it is applicable to this region as well. 
An examination of the plan, which illustrates one phase of fan devel- 
opment, shows that the stream leaves the mouth of its canyon with 



28 WATER RESOUECES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

full force, but at the margin of the plain toward which it is flowing 
it spreads, so that it drops most of the heaviest material. The stream 
itself, which in the canyon has been confined to a single channel, 
diverges into several distributaries, each of which carries its own 
load of heavier gravels and sands, to be deposited in the order of their 
weight as the transporting power of the water diminishes. If one 
of these distributaries be followed downward along its course, it will 
be noted that low levees of gravel in the upper courses and of sands 
and mud farther down have accumulated on each side of the shallow 
channels. This linear arrangement of the material has been indi- 
cated on the diagram. It is characteristic of the fan type and 
undoubtedly plays a considerable part in allowing free percolation 




^^^^ 







PLAN 



CROSS SECTION 

Figure 3.— Diagrammatic plan and sections of alluvial fan, showing arrangement of d§bris. Sketch eon- 
tours do not show channeling of fan. 

of water through the material. The drawing also indicates the con- 
tinued division of the distributaries and their gradual extinction 
around the lower margin of the fan, where the finer material comes to 
rest. So far as observed, the end point of this process of deposition 
is to be found in the thin, irregular flows of mud left on the lower 
slopes. Such deposits are in some places thick enough to obliterate 
the low bunchy grasses across which they have spread. A typical 
deposit of this character is illustrated in Plate II, B, which is a view 
taken several weeks after a cloud-burst in one of the canyons in the 
Santa Fe-Midway oil district, in the southwestern part of the San 
Joaquin Valley. The channel along which this material flowed 
shows in the picture as a faintly marked depression in front of the 
horse and rider, and the margin of the mud levee on each side of the 



WATER-BEARING ROCKS. 29 

channel extends from the point where the horse is standing toward 
the lower left-hand corner of the picture. 

To gain a complete understanding of the growth of the fan it must 
be remembered that the description just given covers but a single 
phase, which may be repeated many times before the fan reaches its 
maximum development. Thus, after a period during which a cer- 
tain arrangement of bowlders and gravel and sand may have been 
made and more or less well-defmed channels formed, new distribu- 
tai'ies may be established and other deposits, perliaps of different 
texture and material, may be laid down so extensively as to conceal 
those of an earlier period. In this way such an arrangement as that 
indicated in the longitudinal and cross sections may result. The 
main facts to be emphasized in regard to this mode of accumulation 
are that the detrital material of the fan exhibits a generally irregular 
arrangement, but grows finer as its distance from the source of mate- 
rial increases. 

The alluvial fans about the margin of Antelope Valley are of this 
character, and in their growth and extension into the lowlands they 
have merged to produce the gently undulating floor of the valley. 
They attain their best development along the foot of the higher 
ranges. Perhaps the most typical, though not the largest fans, he 
at the mouths of the small canyons south of Del Sur. 

PHYSICAL CHARACTER. 

As the valley floor to an unknown depth is made up of detrital 
material which has been deposited in the manner just described, it is 
evident that there will be an intermingling of material from different 
points in various parts of the valley. But it is also true that the 
rocks predominating around the source of the detritus are likely to 
predominate in adjacent valley deposits. In such a comparatively 
smaU basin as the Antelope VaUey, however, the differences between 
the soils, except those of texture, are not particularly marked. Thus 
in a broad and indefinite zone from Palmdale northwestward through 
Fairmont to the extremity of the vaUey and thence northeastward 
along the margin of the Tehachapi Range the superficial deposits 
contain a considerable amount of granitic and schistose material, 
with some limestone. The soils south of the Rosamond Buttes and 
north of Fairmont contain decomposed and transported volcanic 
material intermingled with the granitic grains. In the vicinity of 
the dry lakes the texture of the soils is fiue, like that of the clays 
which underhe much of this region. 

The well records for the valley region indicate that the deeper 
deposits do not differ greatly from the gravels, sands, and clays of 
the surface. (See pp. 37-44.) 



30 WATEK RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

STRUCTURE. 

Broadly considered, the great alluvial filling of the structural 
depression of the Antelope Valley is composed of lenticular and 
irregular beds which dip at low angles away from the bounding 
ranges and buttes. These gravels, sands, and clays show no evidence 
of deformation except at some points along the valley margin. 

At and just north of the central portion of T. 9 N., R. 15 W., a well- 
defined ridge, parallel to the Tehachapi, breaks the even slope of the 
great fan of Cottonwood Creek. So far as examined the gravels and 
clays exposed in this ridge, although they have been folded and 
faulted, are not unlike those near by, which lie as originally deposited. 

These hills, which express an anticlinal fold, either in the fan itself 
or in material only slightly older, prove recent structural changes in 
the region. Deformation of a similar character is evident in gravels 
at the west end of Antelope Valley. Along Liebre Creek these beds 
show dips ranging from 12° to 40°. Immediately northwest of the 
junction of the Bakersfield and Liebre ranch roads a dip of 70° to the 
north in granitic gravel was recorded. Southwest of Palmdale the 
San Andreas fault zone issues from behind Portal Ridge and for a 
short distance involves the gravels forming the margin of the valley 
deposits. They have, in consequence, been sharpty folded and at 
some points even overturned by the violence of the dislocation. 
Good exposures of these tilted gravels and sands are to be found along 
the road from Palmdale to Anaverde ranch, especially in sec. 29, T. 
6 N., R. 12 W. From Tilghman southeastward along the San 
Gabriel Range a definite inface marks the southern margin of the 
valley filHng. Dips of 10°, sufficient to indicate deformation, have 
been noted on this inface. Plate III illustrates two phases of defor- 
mation in these marginal beds : A shows clearly a complete overturn 
of the gravels when faulted against a bedrock surface; B shows a 
gravel inface in which the beds are less disturbed. 

No deformation was observed along the east side of Antelope Valley, 
but enough evidence has already been given to indicate that the 
valley filHng is an alluvial deposit, undisturbed except along the 
margins, which have been flexed by the dislocations accompanying 
the uplift of the mountains. 

SAND DUNES. 

Antelope Valley is a region of high winds, which during part of the 
year sweep across the broad, unprotected plain with considerable 
violence. The usual direction of these winds is from the west, and in 
consequence along the eastern side of the valley cliiefly, but in other 
places as well, considerable sand-dune material has accumulated. 
Through the gradual growth of brush and grasses some of these 



it. s. geolooical -.uhvey 



WATFR-SUPPLY PAPFR ?7H Pi ATF III 




A. FAULTED, FOLDED, AND OVERTURNED ALLUVIAL BEDS NEAR HEAD OF CAJON CANYON. 

See page 30. 




J;. GRAVEL INFACE ABOUT 6 MILES EAST OF TILGHMAN. 
See page 30. 



EFFECT OF RAINFALL ON WATER SUPPLY. 31 

dunes have become permanent, but elsewhere they encroach upon 
the fields and drift across roads and fences whenever the winds attain 
any particular strength. 

PLAYA DEPOSITS. 

In the lower portions of the valley are broad, almost horizontal 
stretches of very finely comminuted clays and silts, irregular in shape 
and tliickness but coinciding with the dry lakes in the lowest ])arts 
of the basin. As they contain a large amount of alkah, they are of 
httle or no agricultural value. 

The alkaline content of the soils in the lower portions of the region 
is almost wholly derived from the evaporation of such waters as reach 
these basins, either upon the surface or through slow upward move- 
ment of ground water. It is because of tliis action that saline incrus- 
tations occur where the ground-water level approaches the surface, 
as in the lower part of Antelope Valley and, on a smaller scale, in 
some of the small basins along the San Andreas fault zone, as well 
as south of Lovejoy Springs and east of Moody Spring. 

WATER RESOURCES. 

INFLUENCE OF RAINFALL. 

The water resources of the Antelope Valley region, both surface 
and underground, depend solely on rain and snowfall within the 
drainage basin, of which, so far as now known, the Rosamond, Buck- 
horn, and Rogers dry lakes occupy the lowest part. This basin has 
an area of about 1,550 square miles, of which 930 square miles may 
be considered as valley land. Its southern and western margin is 
the divide between streams draining toward the sea and those toward 
the Mohave Desert. On the north and east side of the valley, where 
detailed mapping has not been attempted, the drainage conditions 
are less well determined and the outer limit of intermittent streams 
draining into the valley is unknown. 

The records of Barstow and Mohave indicate that the mean annual 
rainfall in the region of low relief in the parts of the Mohave Desert 
north and east of Antelope Valley is less than 5 inches. The amount 
of surface water which reaches the vaUey from this region is therefore 
negligible. By far the greater part of its supply falls as rain and 
snow on the Tehachapi and San Gabriel ranges, which reach eleva- 
tions of from 4,500 to 7,000 feet in the former to over 10,000 feet in 
the eastern portion of the latter. Records for this high region are 
not available except at Tehachapi, which has a mean annual precipi- 
tation of 10.49 inches during 31 years. In Little Bear Valley, in the 
San Bernardino Range, where conditions are comparable to those in 



32 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

the San Gabriel Range, a 5-year record shows a mean annual precipi- 
tation of 27.60 inches. 

The drainage basin of Antelope Valley, as far as known, has been 
roughly indicated on Plate I, page 8, with a heavy black line. The 
dotted black line mthin the area so outlined marks approximately 
the margin of that part of the basin capable of receiving and retain- 
ing waters derived from the whole drainage area. The heavy num- 
bers indicate approximate rainfall where placed. The valley receives 
water most plentifully from the high region south of Little Rock and 
Tilghman, and in moderate amounts from the Tehachapi slopes, 
from the small area southwest of Palmdale, and from the partly 
wooded slopes of the Sierra Pelona south of Neenach. 

It is not possible to present even approximate estimates of the 
amount of water absorbed by the unconsolidated filling of the main 
valley, but in view of the porosity of its marginal gravel fans and the 
upturned attitude of some of the supei'ficial deposits along the foot 
of the mountains, it must be a large proportion of the surface water 
that reaches it. The slopes of the Tehachapi and San Gabriel 
ranges are not particularly absoiptive, so that a relatively large 
part of the rain and sno^vfall must escape by evaporation into the 
air and as run-off into the near-by canyons and thence into the fan 
deposits (see pp. 27-29), the sands and gravels of which readily 
absorb the water that reaches them. 

STJIIFACE SUPPLY. 

Of the streams that debouch into Antelope Valley the more 
important have been briefly described on pages 12-13. Only two of 
these. Rock and Little Rock creeks, have been utihzed for irrigation. 
Definite information regarding the history of these developments is 
difficult to get, but the follo^\ing brief notes were obtained in the 
field: 

DEVELOPMENTS ON ROCK CREEK. 

In 1892 a periodical pubhshed in Chicago promoted a scheme by 
which the waters of Rock Creek were to be diverted at a point 
near the mouth of its canyon and distributed to lower lands both 
east and west of the stream. Open unlined ditches and flumes were 
constructed and lands were deeded in the expectation of irrigating 
about 1,000 acres. It is stated that settlers to the number of forty 
or more famihes built homes in the area that it was proposed to 
develop. 

After two or three years the water suppl}' was found to be inade- 
quate and holdings were abandoned, except along the upper portions 
of the main canals where a supply could be rehed upon. At present 
but four or five famihes reside continuously in the region. 



UTILIZATION OF SURFACE WATERS. 



33 



The only records of flow available for Rock Creek are those 
tabulated below, which have been pubUshed at various times by 
the United States Geological Survey.^ 

Discharge of Rock and Pallett Creeks, Los Angeles County, Cal. 
[Drainage area, 52 square miles.) 



Pate. 



Jan. 4, 1897 

Do 

Jan. 4, 1898 

Do 

Oct. 14,1908 

Do 

Do 



Locality. 



Above Albergers Dam 

Tunnel approach 

Opposite dam site near where Pallett Creek enters 
Rock Creek. 

In development tunnel 

Above all diversions (U miles above Shoemakers).. 

Pallett Creok at road crossing near schoolhouse 

Below mouth of Pallett Creek 



Authority. 



J. B. Llppincott. 

do 

do 



do 

W. B. Clapp. 

do 

do 



Discharce 
in cubic feet 
per second. 



5.3 

1.33 

5.27 

1.33 
G.5 
1.8 
9.4 



DEVELOPMENTS ON LITTLE ROCK CREEK. 

The drainage basin of Little Rock Creek comprises about 78 
square miles and undoubtedly gives a greater run-off during winter 
months than Rock Creek, with an area of 52 square miles, 
although the summer flow of the creek is considerably less, for a 
larger proportion of the drainage basin Ues below the part of the 
range in which the melting of the winter snows is sufficiently retarded 
to affect the summer run-off. About 15 years ago C. F. Cole and 
others planned to develop these waters and organized the South 
Antelope Valley Irrigation Co. Diversion works were constructed 
on this stream about 6 miles above the mouth of the canyon and the 
water was conducted in an open canal nearly 7 miles toward the 
northwest to a reservoir about 2^ miles south of Palmdale and just 
west of the Southern Pacific tracks, as shown in Plate V, A (p. 42). 
This reservoir is a natural feature due to the uphft of low hills along 
the north side of the San Andreas fault zone in such a way as to block 
the channels formerly draining into Antelope Valley. Except for the 
building of a levee to prevent overflow of the railroad right of way, 
practically no construction was necessary to convert this depression 
into a reservoir of a capacity stated to be 5,500 acre-feet. It was 
originally planned to divert winter storm waters into this reservoir 
where they were to be held until the succeeding summer. The 
great length of the unlined canal, about 7 miles, and the porous 
nature of the ground which it traversed for much of this distance 
decreased its value greatly as a conduit. On March 2, 1898, the 
flow near the intake of the canal was 2.02 second-feet as measured 
by Bert Cole, engineer for the company owning the land.^ After 
flowing a mile through the canal the water was reduced in quantity 

1 Nineteenth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, pt. 4, p. 635. Water Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Survey 
No. 28, p. 190. 
* From records of the United States Geological Survey. 

95093°— wsp 278—11 3 



34 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

to 1.60 second-feet, a loss between the two points of about 20 per 
cent. It is stated that at no time since its completion has the 
Palmdale reservoir been filled to its capacity, about 11 feet having 
been the greatest depth of water which it has held. 

Although clay exists in the bottom of the reservoir, there must 
be loss by seepage at least along its northern side. The material 
exposed here is a roughly stratified gravelly and sandy deposit 
similar to the valley filling, except that it has been tilted and fractured 
along the San Andreas fault zone. One of the most recent indications 
of this faulting is a crack coinciding exactly with the north edge 
of the reservoir. In Plate V, A, the apparent terrace extending 
from the center of the picture downward toward the lower right- 
hand corner is the scarp along this fracture. 

After the completion of the irrigation works and the expenditure 
(stated) of $182,000, water was distributed to users along the margin 
of the Antelope Valley between Little Rock post office and Palmdale. 
The population of this region at that time is not now known, but 
judging from the evidences of cultivation not yet obliterated it 
may easily have been 200. For about six years the colony prospered, 
but dry winters caused a great decrease in the flow of Little Rock, 
and it became impossible to get water to the reservoir. This led to the 
abandonment of most of the orchards at the west end of the colony. 

Three years ago a cloud-burst carried away the headgates of the 
canal and since then both the Palmdale reservoir and its inlet canal 
have been dry except for such water as has accumulated in the former 
during the winter as run-off from the adjacent slopes.^ 

The only remaining phase of development of the waters of Little 
Rock Creek is that adjacent to Little Rock post office. This colony 
was organized in 1890 to make use of waters taken from the creek in 
sec. 22, T. 5 N., R. 11 W., at a point where the flow of the stream is 
brought to the surface under interesting conditions. For nearly 5 
miles above this point the stream bed is dry during a large part of the 
year, but just below the point of diversion, in section 22, the San 
Andreas fault crosses the stream. As at many other places along this 
zone the north side of the fault seems to act as a submerged dam and 
the underflow of the creek has been forced to the surface. A flume was 
submerged in the gravels of the creek bed at this point, through which 
much of the underflow was led into a canal on the east side of the 
creek. From this canal the water was distributed over lands lying 
mostly within sees. 12, 13, and 14, of T. 5 N., R. 11 W. After suit 
with the South Antelope Irrigation Co. the users of this water compro-* 
mised by allowing the company to use all water above 600 miner's 
inches, which was about one-half of the original amount filed upon 
by the settlers near Little Rock. The winter and spring of 1900 was 

1 For a full description of the project, with plate and maps, see Eighteenth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, 
pt. 4, pp. 711-775. 



UTILIZATION OF SURFACE WATERS. 



35 



a period of low rainfall in the drainage basin of Little Rock Creek, 
and to insure the certainty of their water suj)ply during the following 
summer a steam pumping })lant with a capacity of 80 to 100 miner's 
inches was installed over a shallow well in the bed of the stream a 
short distance above the natural dam at the fault line. During the 
irrigating season all the water used was lifted by this pump, but 
fortunately it has been found unnecessary to operate it since, as the 
supply furnished by the flume has been sufficient. 

In December, 1908, the colony was in a more prosperous condition 
than any of those depending on surface waters for irrigating in the 
Antelope Valley. About 250 acres of pears, 200 acres of apples, and 
50 acres of almonds are under cultivation, and fruit of high grade is 
produced, although it is believed by some of the growers that more 
water should be made available without an increase in acreage, to 
get the best results. 

Substantial homes and well-kept orchards and gardens are evidence 
of what can be done in the region by thoughtful cooperation in devel- 
oping and maintaining a water supply. 

The following tabulations of discharge for Little Rock Creek are 
arranged from the records of the United States Geological Survey,^ 
to which have been added a more recent measurement furnished by 
W. B. Clapp, of the United States Geological Survey, district engineer 
at Pasadena, Cal. 

Discharge of Little Rock Creek, Los Angeles County, Cal. 
[Drainage basin, 78 square miles.] 



Date. 



Locality. 



Authority, 



Discharge 
in cubic 
feet per 
second. 



April 20. 
Jtme 2. . 
July?.. 



1896. 



In creek above headworks 

do 

(?) 



J. A. Vogelson.. 
J. B. Lippincott. 
Burt Cole 



1898. 



February 20 In flume 

March 2 Above head gate . 

May Estimated flow. . 

June 4 to December 31 



do. 

}....do. 



1899. 

January ! Estimated flow. 

February do 

March do 

April do 

May do 

June do 

July do 

August do 

September ' do 

October ' do 

November i do 

December i do 



1908. 
October 13 



Burt Cole . 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

....do.... 

....do.... 



Head of flume near Little Rock post 
office. 



W. B. Clapp. 



7.16 

1.04 

.26 



5.11 

2.02 

5.20 

Dry. 



4.9 

4.41 

7.66 

4.50 

1.50 

2.00 

.2 

.2 

.2 

.00 

.00 

1.00 



1.11 



a Mean. 



» Eighteenth Ann. Rept., pt. 4, pp. 402-405; Nineteenth Ann. Rept., pt. 4, pp. 526-528; Twentieth Ann. 
Rept.,pt. 4, pp. 64, 540; Twenty-first Ann. Rept., pt. 4, p. 471; Water-Supply Paper 16, p. 193; Water- 
Supply Paper 28, p. 191. 



36 WATER EESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFOENIA. 

UNDERGROUND WATER. 
ORIGIN. 

Antelope Valley lies between 60 and 75 miles from the ocean and 
its lowest portion is at least 2,300 feet above sea level. Springs at 
various points along the margin of the valley floor furnish a small 
amount of water to the gravels, but practically the full supply is 
derived directly from rainfall and run-off within its drainage basin. 
Of this whole area about 620 square miles is mountainous and about 
930 square miles is valley land. 

It has already been shown (pp. 27-29) that the unconsolidated filling 
of the valley is in excellent condition to receive and absorb the run-off 
from the mountains and that the gravels, sands, and clays which 
compose it are irregularly distributed and interleaved. The distri- 
bution of these lenses of detritus can not be determined by surface 
indications, but since practically all the wells of the valley find water 




Figure 4.— Diagram showing artesian conditions in Antelope Valley. 

if driven sufficiently deep, there must be a fairly free communication 
between the various beds of gravels and porous sands. 

Figure 4 presents a hypothetical cross section of coalescent alluvial 
fans. The arrows show the direction of flow of waters entering the 
deposits at a — a, and their weight indicates the ease of transit of 
waters percolating through the gravels and sands. It will be noted 
that beneath the lowest part of the valley h, where it is assumed the 
finer clays and most compact sands are to be found, the waters circu- 
late freely only in the coarser beds of sand and gravel as at c. Less 
porous beds, as the sands (Z, may permit the percolation of a certain 
amount of water near the fan margin, but toward the center of the 
valley the deposit becomes less porous and the contained water is 
held back in the coarser portion of the lens. If the material of the 
fan be thus saturated beneath a, a hydrostatic column may be pro- 
duced, the height of which may be considered as the distance from a 
to/. The pressure that results is communicated to the waters confined 



DATA CONCERNING WELI^. 37 

in tlie gravel beneath the less porous clays of the lower parts of the 
valley so that when released by a well or structural break they tend 
to rise toward the level a. As frictional obstruction to tlie free flow 
of water underground is inevitable, the water of no artesian well will 
rise to the level of its head, therefore, tlie yield of wells, other con- 
ditions beuig equal, indicates roughly the porosity of the strata in 
which they encounter water. The irregularity of the water-bearing 
lenses in Antelope Valley is thus attested, as there is considerable 
variation in tlie flow of wells believed to be otherwise similar. The 
best proof of the irregularity of the valley deposits is found in a study 
of the well logs furnished by drillers in tlie region. Fully GO per cent 
of tliese records were made by one driller and they are believed to be 
rehable. 

DATA CONCERNING WELLS. 

West of Fairmont. — Of the half dozen or more wells examined in 
the portion of Antelope Valley west of Fairmont the logs of but two 
are available. These logs indicate that gravelly and sandy beds, 
with only a minor amount of clay, predominate to a depth of about 
150 feet, below which the clay increases in amount. At the school- 
house near Neenach water exists at a depth of 200 feet in a gravelly 
layer in this clay. 

Vicinity of Willow Springs. — Information as to the character of 
the unconsolidated material in the valley near Willow Springs is 
meager. From the surface to a depth rangmg from 75 to 200 feet, 
sand with a minor amount of clayey layers predominates. This sand 
rests on a compact clay bed which, in sec. 24, T. 9 S., R. 14 W., is 
about 150 feet thick. Surface water usually occurs at the top of 
tliis clay bed, but beneath it gravel lenses about 50 feet thick carry 
water w^liich is stated to be under pressure, though with insufficient 
head to bring it above the surface. In the same vicinity water occurs 
beneath a second clay bed at a depth of about 320 feet, where rather 
coarse gravel and sand allow a free flow of fair water, also stated to 
be artesian and to have risen 251 feet in the well when struck. 

At the Gerblick weU, in sec. 16, T. 9 N., R. 13 W., a plentiful 
supply of water is said to exist in sand at a depth ranging from 50 to 
75 feet from the surface. It is possible that the large amounts ot 
water found in wells along the foot of Rosamond Buttes is due to the 
proximity of the fault or flexure on which Willow Springs are located. 

North of Little Buttes IJ miles, in sec. 6, T. 8 N., R. 13 W., water 
of good quality is found beneath a 20-foot bed of clay at a depth of 
50 feet in sandy layers containing clayey intercalations. 

Vicinity of Rosamond. — From a point about 4 miles west of Rosa- 
mond southeastward to sec. 31, T. 9 N., R. 12 W., clay and coarse to 
medium sand with the clay slightly predominant occur from a depth 



38 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

of 170 to about 220 feet. Near the bottom of these intercalated 
sands and clays are gravelly layers, which at some points carry weak 
artesian waters. From a depth of 150 feet downward both clays and 
sands are considerably indurated; limy layers, known locally as 
''hardpan" or ''cement" are of common occurrence and offer con- 
siderable resistance to rapid drilling. 

From section 31 northeastward the water-bearing gravelly beds 
thicken considerably and appear to pass into a coarse granitic sand 
like that found in a well one-half mile northeast of Rosamond, which 
encountered bedrock at a depth of about 300 feet. In this well the 
water rose 2 feet. The fact that within one-half mile of this hole a 
good artesian flow was encountered at a depth of 115 feet suggests 
that in this vicinity the north margin of the flowing area is against 
bedrock. Here, as farther west, considerable quantities of ''cement" 
occur at depths from 100 feet downward. Surface water is encountered 
5 to 15 feet below ground level and is quite plentiful. Nonartesian 
water also occurs at a depth of from about 30 to 75 feet in the region 
west of Rosamond. Artesian water in this vicinity has been struck 
at 115, 140, 185, 300, and 340 feet below the surface. 

Vicinity of Redman. — Records available for six of the wells sunk 
near Redman's ranch indicate that in the region to the west and north- 
west sand and thin intercalated clay beds exist to a depth of about 
225 feet. Some "cement" occurs with these sands and clays. 
North of the schoolhouse the amount of "cement" increases. At 
depths ranging approximately between 225 and 450 feet blue clay 
with little included sand or gravel has been found, and this impervious 
bed has held down the artesian waters found in cemented sand and 
gravel beneath it. There is also a free gravel carrying artesian water 
near the top of this clay at a depth of about 215 feet. 

Northeast of Redman the conditions appear to be variable. A 
well about 1 mile south of Buckhorn Springs passes through clay with 
a small amount of sand to a depth of about 170 feet, below which 
heavy (and hence probably open) gravel carries a large flow of arte- 
sian water which appeared to have its greatest pressure at a depth of 
about 235 feet. Southeast of this locality, 2^ miles, the only clays 
encountered in a total thickness of 310 feet of sand were two thin beds 
at depths of 215 and 260 feet, respectively. The best artesian flow 
here was found at a depth of about 400 feet; at 250 feet a weaker 
flow is held down by a layer of limy "cement." 

Surface water occurs at 6 to 15 feet, nonartesian water at 80 to 100 
feet, and artesian water has been struck at depths of 130, 175, 210, 
215, 225, 250, 550 feet. 

Vicinity of Reid rancJi. — The deposit of sand with some layers of 
clay and cement which has already been described as occurring west 
of Redman, extends farther and occupies much of the S. i of T. 8 N., 



DATA CONCERNING WELLS. 39 

R. 11 W., where it reaches to a depth of about 210 feet, but it thins 
toward the south where it is hirgely replaced by clay. 

The wells about one-half mile north and for a distance of 3 miles 
east of Reids penetrate clay and intercalated cement layers to a 
depth of 300 feet. Sandy lenses are uncommon, but where found 
they usually carry artesian waters, as in one of the older wells on Reid 
ranch, in which six separate flows were struck. The confining beds 
for such waters appear to be in some places "cement" layers, in others 
clay. Only one sandy layer in this vicinity has so far been correlated 
in different logs. This is a thin lens at a depth of about 400 feet in 
the northeast corner of T. 7 N., R. 11 W. 

Four miles south of Reid ranch two deep wells used for domestic 
supply penetrate sands and clay to a depth of between 80 and 115 
feet. Below these sands and clays, clay and "hardpan" predominate 
to a depth of 565 feet. Though the water of these wells is artesian, 
the head is insulhcient to bring it above the surface. 

Surface water in this vicinity occurs at 5 to 15 feet. Artesian 
water is struck at 200, 250, 275, 300, 350, 375, 400, 450, and 570 feet 
below the surface. 

Vicinity of Oliver Miller's ranch. — Intercalated layers of sand, clay, 
and cement, with the sand layers predominating, extend from the 
surface to a depth between 200 and 240 feet in the vicinity of Oliver 
Miller's ranch. Toward the southwest some clay and cement are 
interbedded with the sand, and eastward and northeastward the sand, 
with its included clayey layers is reduced to about 150 feet in 
thickness. 

Beneath this sandy zone are clays with minor amounts of sand 
and "honeycomb cement." This term is applied throughout the 
region to a limy hardpan, either in clay or sand, which probably 
through the action of solvent water has been partly disintegrated 
and so rendered more or less cellular. In tliis condition it becomes, 
instead of the usual restraining agent, a free conduit for artesian 
waters. It is stated that some of the best flows obtained in Antelope 
VaUey occur in such honey-combed zones. At a depth of between 
380 and 450 feet, at Miller's house, soft sandy layers are found, and 
these form a portion of the zone in which the lower artesian waters 
are found. 

Surface water here occurs at 5 to 20 feet and artesian water at 
depths of 145, 150, 240, 255, 285, and 450 feet. 

Vicinity of Lancaster. — The logs of about 35 wells within a radius 
of 2^ miles of the center of Lancaster indicate in a general way the 
underground conditions. The records are most plentiful for wells 
in Lancaster (sec. 15), and if the logs are reliable they make it pos- 
sible to know somewhat accurately the position and thickness of the 
various sand and clay and "cement" lenses. 



40 WATER BESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells in the southeastern portion of sec. 15 penetrate inter- 
bedded sands, clays, and cement layers, among which the sands 
appear to predominate, to a depth ranging from 150 to 235 feet 
below the surface. This arenaceous lens loses its character toward 
the north and northwest owing to the increase in the amount of 
clayey material which it carries. Thus several of the wells in the north- 
west quarter of town penetrate but three or four sandy layers within 
the first 200 feet of depth, aggregating less than 70 feet in thickness. 

The log of Capt. E. M. Heaton's well, at the north edge of town, 
near the railroad, shows that but two thin layers of sand, less than 
5 feet each in thickness, were penetrated in a depth of 220 feet; 
these thin layers represent the total thickness here of a lens which 
a mile to the south reaches, with its included clayey layers, a thick- 
ness of about 220 feet. 

In Plate IV are shown a hypothetical section (B-B) across sec. 
15 from the southeast corner to a point near the middle of the 
north side and a section (C-C) from a point near the center of sec. 
21 northeastward to the north-central part of sec. 12. The posi- 
tions of near-by wells have been projected to these lines and the 
generalized logs plotted. The deductions from the study of these 
logs as to the position of formations and water planes are shown. 
Data regarding the ground surface elevation of these wells are 
insufficient to fix their exact position, but as this difference in eleva- 
tion is probably within 10 or 12 feet it has been neglected. The 
location of wells is shown on the sketch map of Lancaster and 
vicinity (fig. 5) . Surface water near Lancaster varies from 5 to 50 
feet below ground level. 

Below the sandy zone in sec. 15 clay, with a considerable amount 
of cement but little sand, is found. Some of this '^ cement" is of 
the cellular or honeycomb variety and becomes the flowage zone 
for artesian waters. In the southeast portion of the section a 
water-bearing sandy layer lies at a depth of about 325 to 350 feet. 
Water-bearing sand and cement layers occur at depths of 230 to 275 
feet in the north part of Lancaster. 

Southwest of Lancaster the formation is clayey and contains evenly 
distributed cement layers. Several thin sandy layers occur at 
varying depths and these carry artesian water in most places. There 
is probably a more or less free connection between these sand lenses, 
as an artesian flow is encountered at a depth of only about 90 feet 
in this vicinity. The spring which rises at the center of section 21 
is due to leakage of these artesian waters. The logs show that the 
sandy lens, between the surface and a depth of 235 feet in the south- 
east quarter of section 15, extends a mile or more toward the north- 
east, but includes in its upper portion more clay. In the clays 



m 215 



F 




lens 



clayey lens 



cmcnT_ ;g-- 



197 181 



SECTION C-C. Position shown on diagram 



\\ 



\\a! 



mm " 

hP Sand 



100 104 



.c^^ 



clay 






\e^- 



-\aV 



^eV 



C\3V 



.d ^^^ 






"Cement" Honeycomb" 






9 


10 
«I29B 


11 


84. 


16 


15 .V° 
220* 197 317^ 


^^ IM 

/ K 


13 


191 » 

229.2' ^ 
^,216 

'^ 213 


92 22 


23 


24 



WATER-SUPPLY .PAPER 278 PLATE IV 

SECTION B-B. Position shown on diagram 

I 301 231 Z26 230 317 



Sand with 
clayey layers 



WELL SECTIONS AND DIAGRAM SHOWING PROBABLE UNDERGROUND CONDITIONS AT LANCASTER AND VICINITY AS INDICATED BY WELL LOGS 



DATA CONCERNING WEI.LS. 



41 



iindorlying this part of the sand lens, liardpans and conients are loss 
important tlian southwest of Lancaster. 

Depths to artesian water noted in several wells are 80, 100, 130, 
150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 270, 325, 350, 375, 425, 440, 500, and 515 
feet. 



,306 



352 



la^i^ Lii^LjSl L 




Figure 5. — Sketch map of Lancaster and vicinity, showing location of wells. 

The irregularity of depth indicated by these figures makes it impos- 
sible to define the zones in which during future drilling water may be 
expected to occur, although the study of adjacent wells will often 
serve as a guide. The above figures are selected at random from 
records of wells within the neighborhood of Lancaster. 



42 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNL\. 

Vicinity of Coleman^ s ranch. — The logs of six wells are available 
in the region about Coleman's ranch, which is in sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 
12 W., and vicinity. These logs, though they indicate considerable 
variety in the strata penetrated, show that clay predominates, 
although there is much '' cement," especially in the southwest portion 
of the section. A thia bed of sand is found just below the subsoil, 
and surface water occurs at a depth varying from 10 to 25 feet and is 
fairly well distributed. Clay with thin beds of '^cemenf and sand 
extends to a depth of between 75 and 100 feet and is underlain by a 
thin but continuous bed of sand which carries artesian water. Below 
this bed are clay and cement with only a minor amount of sand to 
a depth of about 350 feet, beyond which the logs do not extend. 
A zone of ''honeycomb cement'^ at a depth of about 140 feet carries 
an artesian flow, as does also a similar layer in the clay, which slopes 
from a depth of 230 feet in the western part of the area to about 
265 feet in the eastern portion. The most westerly log of the group 
indicates that in this direction the amount of sand is increasuio:. 
This group of logs indicates a greater regularity in the thickness and 
position of the deposits underlying section 20 than is usual in Ante- 
lope Valley; there is a corresponding regularity in the position of the 
artesian horizons. 

Surface water in this vicinity occurs at depths of 10 to 15 feet. 

The upper artesian horizon is encountered at depths of 135, 150, 
155, and 175 feet below ground surface, and the lower artesian hori- 
zon at 220, 230, 235, 265, and 320 feet below ground surface. 

Vicinity of Esperanza. — Seventeen logs, some of them incomplete, 
of wells in Esperanza and vicinity, are availa'ble, and of these nine 
indicate that the deposits underlying the Post ranch and the property 
just south of it are mostly clay with minor amounts of sand and 
cement to a depth of between 150 and 250 feet. Definite beds of 
sand are not known to exist except at a depth of about 25 feet where 
a zone 8 to 15 feet thick carries surface water. Beneath the clays 
and usually associated with sand is a considerable thickness of 
''cement," much of which is cellular (honeycomb) and hence allows the 
free passage of artesian water. It is difficult to correlate beds in this 
part of the section, but a sandy uncemented zone is traceable at 
depths varying from 250 to 350 feet. 

The logs of wells north of Post's ranch indicate a higher percentage 
of coarse sand from the ground surface to a depth of 225 feet, but 
below this the "cement'* strata predominate, artesian flows occurring 
either in sands or "honeycomb cement." 

The general sandy character of the upper portion of these wells 
persists toward the north, even as far as sec. 2, T. 8 N., R. 13 W., 
where sand with a minor amount of "cement" and clay exists to a 
depth of 200 feet, below which the quantity of "cement" increases. 



U. 8. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATEH-SUPPLV PAPER 278 PLATE V 




J. PALMDALE RESERVOIR, LOOKING NORTHWEST. 
Dash line indicates position of San Andreas fault See page 33. 




B. SAN ANDREAS FAULT TRACE NEAR ANAVERDE RANCH, LOOKING NORTHWEST. 
Dash line indicates posrtion of San Andreas fault. See page 21. 



DATA CONCERNING WELLS. 43 

Surface water in tlie vicinity of Esperanza occurs from a few 
inches to 25 feet from the sui-face. 

An upper artesian horizon is encountered at 135, 150, 160, and 185 
feet below ground surface, the main artesian horizon at 215 and 260 
feet below ground surface, and the lower artesian horizon at 285 
and 310 feet below ground surface. 

Vicinity of Palmdale. — Although the wells of this vicinity lie 
entirely outside of the area of flowing waters the logs are interesting 
in showing the distribution of the hardpans or "cements" encoun- 
tered. North of Palmdale sands, some of them coarse, with con- 
siderable amounts of clay, contain only a few ''cement" layers, but 
toward the south and southwest the amount of ''cement," some of it 
apparently gypsiferous, increases remarkably. A reason for this 
may be found in the proximity of the structural area north of the San 
Andreas fault. (See PL V.) 

Sandy layers in the clay and "cement" at depths of between 250 
and 380 feet form the water conduits of this vicinity. No shallow 
water is found, but nonartesian waters occur at depths of 245, 265, 
270, 340, 375, and 380 feet below ground surface. Although prob- 
ably nonartesian, the water supply from the deeper zones is plentiful. 

Vicinity ofOhan. — Oban lies near the center of Antelope Valley, and 
as expected, the material penetrated in its vicinity is generally quite 
fine and clayey. A sandy zone at a depth of 15 or 20 feet, 3 miles 
west of the railroad, is found at correspondingly greater depths toward 
the ea^t until at the center of sec. 14, T. 8 N., R. 12 W., it is between 
90 and 100 feet below the surface. Clay, with a moderate amount of 
"cement" and a few sandy layers, exists to a depth of between 240 
and 290 feet, where water-bearing sand and gravel are found. The 
logs of the deeper wells west of Oban indicate a continuation of the 
clay below this sand to a depth of 500 feet, where there is a stratum 
of water-bearing sand. Surface water in this vicinity is found at 
depths of 2 to 12 feet, and artesian horizons are encountered at 85, 
140, 170, 215, 225, 240, 255, 270, 290, 370, and 502 feet. 

Vicinity of Del Sur. — ^At Del Sur the formation is gravelly to a 
depth of 70 feet and nonfiowing waters in fairly plentiful amount 
are found beneath a thin clay stratum about 55 feet lower. 

Toward the west and northwest the beds are more clayey and con- 
tain small amounts of hardpan. On the west half of sec. 12, T. 7 N., 
R. 14 W., clay was penetrated to a depth of 100 feet, below which 
lay sand to a depth of 120 feet. Water is found here at a depth of 
122 feet. 

OTHER DATA. 

The evidence offered by the well logs as to the underground con- 
ditions in the valley, is supplemented by that afforded by the gravels 
along the valley margin, which at a number of points are sufficiently 



44 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

upturned to show the actual succession and arrangement of the 
material composing them. The exposures usually show the expected 
irregularity and interlea^dng of such deposits as would be found near 
the mouths of torrential streams, and these, except in their coarseness, 
form a good index of the conditions farther out in the valley. The 
best exposures of this nature are the upturned gravels of the Sand 
Hills of T. 9 N., R. 15 W., and the vertical and overturned gravels 
and sands along the San Andreas fault west of Palmdale. 

DISTINCTION BETWEEN ARTESIAN AND NONARTESIAN WATERS. 

Though it has been shown that all the underground waters of 
Antelope Valley have a common surface origin within its drainage 
basin, a few words are necessary to explain the distinction between 
artesian and nonartesian waters. By reference to figure 4, page 36, 
it is evident that water entering the valley deposits at a and perco- 
lating between confining layers towards the lowest part of the basin 
at h, will acquire a pressure head which increases with increase in 
depth of the water. The well logs indicate that water is commonly 
encountered at several levels, even in a single well, as in No. 213 of 
section C-C, Plate IV. Almost invariably in such wells the strength 
of flow follows the rule above stated. The waters near the surface 
therefore seldom rise appreciably, and usually not at all, when struck. 
Even where they may have acquired a slight head the loss due to the 
friction of the gravels, sands, or other materials through which the 
waters percolate may have completely nullified the pressure head. 
The term nonartesian is apphed to all underground waters which do 
not show an appreciable rise when struck in drilling. They are usually 
confined, except near the margin of the valley, to the first 100 feet of 
depth. 

The term ''artesian" is applied to all underground waters which 
show an appreciable rise when struck, whether or not the pressure is 
sufficient to produce flows at the surface. The flowing area shown upon 
the map does not therefore, according to the above definitions, repre- 
sent the total artesian area. 



WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 45 

ARTESIAN WATERS. 
FLOWING AREA. 

Enough wells have been located in Antelope Valley to make it 
possible to outline on a map the area beneath which lie waters under 
sufficient head to flow over the surface of the ground when the con- 
fining materials are perforated, as by drilling. 

Tliis area occupies tlie central and lower portions of Antelope Valley, 
with a width north and south of about 13 miles and a length of about 
25 miles, and contains over 240 square miles of territory. This esti- 
mate does not include a possible extension of the area under Rogers 
dry lake farther than has been drawn on the map. No conclusive 
data for or against such an extension are available. Topographically 
the conditions indicate that boring in or near the margin of this flat 
at points even north of Rodriguez might result in flowing wells, but 
the possible buried eastward extension of the Rosamond Butte scarp 
may act as a barrier to the northward flow of the artesian waters, as 
it does between Buckhorn Springs and Willow Springs. 

Within this area there have been drilled during the past 25 or 30 
years over 300 wells, most of which are flowing to-day. Many of 
these wells were examined during the winter of 1 908-9, and much 
information was obtained, but for the following reasons this informa- 
tion is defective in certain respects, hence some of the conclusions 
drawn, especially regarding flow, must be incomplete and very 
general. 

Some of the wells were sunk only as a means for obtaining patent 
to Government land; with the granting of such patents an owner 
might leave his land and well with little further improvement, and 
under such conditions the deterioration of the well, especially as to 
flow, is rapid. No information as to fluctuations or former flow of such 
abandoned wells is usually available except when the owner or driller 
can be found, and then the data are commonly not a matter of record. 

During the winter season some of the wells are tightly capped and 
so are not available for measurement. Other wells rise below the 
water surface in reservoirs and so are inaccessible for flow tests. 

Defects in drilhng methods, some of them unavoidable, may result 
in procuring less than the maximum yield. A well casing may be 
perforated above or below the point at wliich the well penetrates a 
water-bearing stratum and consequently the well yields only a portion 
of its available flow. The accumulation of fine material within or 
around a perforated casing forms another source of trouble, resulting 
in a gradual decrease in the yield of the well. Again, if some of the 
gravels or sands penetrated above the artesian strata are sufficiently 
porous, the water during its rise to the surface, may waste away into 
these. 



46 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

It may be stated, however, that if wells are carefully drilled, cased, 
and perforated, and the artesian zone is not too thin or too compact 
in texture, the strongest flows are to be expected in the lowest por- 
tions of the valley, that is, from the neighborhood of Oban eastward 
and a little north along the southern margin of Rosamond, Buck- 
horn, and Rogers dry lakes. 

South of Redman's ranch IJ miles several wells have been drilled 
which, judging from surface indications alone, should have yielded a 
good supply of flowing water. One of these, No. 70, was drilled to 
the depth of 612 feet, far enough to penetrate the lowest water-bearing 
zone yet found in the neighborhood, but the pressure was only 
sufficient to bring water to within about 6 feet of the surface. Such an 
occurrence indicates an unusual compactness in the material in the 
vicinity, or the existence of a buried dike of impervious clay or bed- 
rock which isolates the strata penetrated by these wells from the 
main body of water-bearing beds in the valley. It is possible that 
the obstruction, if it is merely a thick lens of clay, does not extend 
to the bottom of the valley, in which case it is reasonable to suppose 
that water may be forced beneath it, so that by deepening the wells 
a free flow can be obtained. Should the drill, however, encounter 
what is certainly known to be bedrock, further expenditure would 
be useless, as artesian water in quantity for economic use is found only 
in the sediments lying on top of the bedrock floor of the valley. 

NONFLOWING AREA. 

Extending around the margin of the flowing area is a zone of 
indefinite width within which plentiful waters exist, but these waters, 
though artesian, have not sufficient head to rise and flow over the 
surface. The inner margin of this area is the line at which weUs 
begin to flow, but the position of the outer boundary depends abso- 
lutely on the character of the water-bearing zone and the ground 
surface slope. In Antelope Valley it has been found that, with the 
value of the crops irrigated taken into consideration, pumping from 
a depth greater than 50 or 60 feet is at present unprofitable. To 
counterbalance the additional cost of farming due to this item, it is 
usually true that the soil of the nonflowing area is less alkaline and 
boggy than that within the flowing area, as it is better drained and, 
except near the flowing area, is not affected by the upward leak 
from the water-bearing strata. 

VARIATIONS IN WATER LEVEL. 

Information on this most important question of future develop- 
ment and conservation of Antelope Vafley water supply is meager. 
Owners of wells have kept no record of seasonal fluctuations from 
year to year, so that the relations between rainfall and volume of 
artesian flow can not be established. The Geological Survey has no 



ARTESIAN WATERS. 47 

records prior to those obtained in the winter of 1909, durin<2: the 
period of inactivity in the use of water. It is stated that for certain 
wells, generally those just within the margin of the flowing area, the 
summer flow is considerably less than the winter yield, and sometimes 
ceases. This is true of well No. 141, in sec. 8, T. 7 N., R. 11 W., 
which origmally flowed 5^ miner's inches and when visited in the 
winter was flowing about half that amount. During the summer its 
flow ceases and its water is pumped. A well in Lancaster, near the 
Rockabrandt place, flowing 12.5 miner's inches when visited, is 
stated to flow but 8 inches in the summer. The flow of wells on the 
Coleman ])lace at the margin of the flowing area near Lancaster 
is reduced about half during the hot season. On the other hand, 
a well (No. 249) in sec. 14, T. 7 N., R. 13 W., also near the 
margin of the flowing area, is very slightly affected. A well on 
M. H. Cheney's place, in sec. 2, T. 7 N., R. 12 W., flowed 14 inches 
when visited, and is stated to flow but 10 inches during the summer. 
These few examples cover such information obtained regarding 
seasonal fluctuations as is sufficiently definite to include here, but it 
may be stated that there is a natural reduction in the pressure head 
during the period of high evaporation. How much of this is due to 
lowering of the w^ater table through evaporation and inadequate 
replenishment and how much to increased use of the water is 
unknown. 

Fluctuations of a less extended nature than those just described 
are due to pumping. It has been observed that the flow of wells 
adjacent to the pumping plants is usually reduced during the opera- 
tion of the plants, but the normal supply is resumed wdien the plant 
is shut down. Such close connection between wells is indicative of 
a free percolating medium between them. Uncapping of wells at 
some points causes a reduction in the flow of adjacent wells. 

ARTESIAN SPRINGS. 

Artesian water within Antelope Valley finds natural outlets in a 
number of springs, including Buckhorn Springs, a spring southwest 
of Lancaster, Indian Springs, and Willow Springs. 

Buckhorn Springs. — The several outlets which compose the Buck- 
horn group of springs are in sees. 27 and 28 of T. 9 N., R. 10 W., 
and are visible from a distance as low, grassy mounds in the flat 
brushy region between Buckhorn and Rogers dry lakes. The most 
typical of these outlets is near the cabin in section 28. The water bub- 
bles up strongly from the bottom of a small depression at the apex 
of a low mound, and brings wdth it a considerable quantity of clean 
white granitic sand which forms a small crater-like heap just at the 
point where the water issues. The quahty of this water is comparable 
to that of the neighboring artesian wells, and this, with the strong 



48 



WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 



upward current of the springs, suggests an identity of origin. It is 
only necessary to explain their leakage upward from beneath the 
impervious clay, which is probably the confining agent in this low 
portion of the Antelope Valley, and the reason for the existence of the 
springs becomes apparent. 

Two explanations are offered: Either the local interleaving of 
water-bearing lenses at this point has permitted the free upward 
leakage or flow of otherwise confined artesian water, as shown in a 
of figure 6, or else the fault which is beheved to exist along the south 
slope of the Rosamond Buttes, described on page 21, has deformed 
and fractured the water gravels lying beneath the surface as indi- 
cated in h of the figure, and so furnished a conduit for the deep 
artesian waters. The total flow of Buckhorn Springs is now impossible 
to measure and difficult to estimate. It may amount to about 20 
miner's inches. 

At the time of the San Francisco earthquake the writer observed 
temporarily active fountains or springs produced in just this manner 




N. s 




a 5 

FiGUBE 6. — Diagrams showing possible origin of Buckliom Springs. 

along the bed of Coyote Creek in the Santa Clara VaUey (of the north), 
where fractures produced by the earthquake penetrated deep enough 
into the valley filHng to become conduits for artesian water. 

Spring southwest of Lancaster. — ^The spring southwest of Lancaster 
(see p. 40) which is now hardly more than a seep, is located almost 
at the center of sec. 21, T. 7 N., R. 12 W., on a Httle grassy mound. 
Its water contains 182 parts per miUion of dissolved soHds, thus 
agreeing closely with the water of flowing wells just a few hundred 
feet north. The logs of wells in the vicinity show that artesian water is 
found at depths less than 100 feet from the surface and that it occurs 
at several horizons below the uppermost. These facts indicate very 
clearly that the water-bearing zones have free intercommunication, 
and that just at the spring the conduits reach the surface. The 
condition is clearly that indicated diagrammatically in a of figure 6, 
for Buckhorn Springs. 



ARTESIAN WATERS. 



49 



Indian Springs. — ^The group of outlets known as Indian Springs, 
located in the SE. } of sec. 14, T. 9 N., R. 12 W., was hastily examined. 
It Ues just at the foot of the steep south face of Ked Butte, which 
appears to be a part of the scarp of the Rosamond fault. Like Buck- 
horn Springs, the springs are believed to rise either along the fault 
plane itself or through fractures in the valley deposits produced in 
connection with the faulting. 

The amount of flow here is unknown, but is sufficient for use locally 
at near-by mining camps. 

^yiUow Springs. — Seven or more strongly flowing springs all lie in 
the S. i of sec. 7, T. 9 N., R. 13 W., and have a combined flow sufficient 
to irrigate about 33 acres lying to the south of the points of outlet. 

Though these springs have long been known, they have been exten- 
sively used for irrigation only within the past few years. 

Mr. E. M. Hamilton, to whom the property now belongs, has, in 
connection mth many other improvements of a substantial nature, 




Figure 7, — Sketch map of Willow Springs and vicinity. 

constru(fted cement storage reservoirs at two of the springs, and from 
these the water is conducted to orchards and fields in the eastern 
portion of the property. The general arrangement of the springs 
is shown in the accompanying sketch map. 

Their alignment upon and parallel with the scarp extending west- 
ward from the butte northwest of the schoolhouse is a striking feature 
and indicates some relation between the two. The evidence for the 
existence of a fault coincident with the south face of this scarp has been 
presented, but its influence on the production of flowing waters along 
and near the crest of the ridge remains to be explained. There are 
three possible sources for the waters of Willow Springs. They may 
be (1) a portion of the artesian supply of Antelope Valley, (2) the 
underflow of a stream draining the higher region to the north, or (3) 
they may flow from the buried bedrock which is a part of the buttes to 
95093°— wsp 278—11 4 



50 



WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 



the east. If from the first source, the waters rise along planes of weak- 
ness developed along a flexure or fault of which the scarp is the topo- 
graphic expression, as in a of figure 8. If of the second class, the 
flexure produced by the faulting, or possibly even the edge of the 
upthrust bedrock block, may act as a submerged dam, as in b, and 
so bring southward-flowing waters to the surface at the apex of the 
dam thus created. There is little evidence for supposing that all of 
these waters flow from the bedrock itself, but as there is the possibility 
that this may be a contributory source of water the diagram at c 
has been drawn to express graphically such a condition. 

The acceptance of the first hypothesis requires the assumption of 
flowing artesian water in a portion of the Antelope Valley where none 
as yet has been found. As no deep wells have been bored in the vicinity 
of Willow Springs, it is quite possible that artesian water may yet be 
found in the region south of the scarp. For this reason the margin 
of the flo^ving area upon the map has been left indefinite near Willow 
Springs. 

Much of the water flowing into the lowland east and southeast of 
the Tehachapi Range, but north of Antelope Valle}^, would enter the 






FiGUKE 8.— Diagrams showing possible origin of Willow Springs. 

gravels of the depression and seep southward toward Antelope Valley, 
as the buttes and ridges near Soledad Mountain would offer a defi- 
nite resistance to further eastward flow. 

It is not unreasonable to suppose that the springs are due to over- 
flow of ground water from the north against a buried dam such as 
that existing at Willow Springs. It would be expected under such 
conditions that the largest flows would occur in the gulches draining 
the ponded area beliind the dam, yet the deepest gulch answering 
these requirements is that just east of the schoolhouse at Willow 
Springs ; and this was entirely dry when visited in November, although 
immediately adjacent to a plentiful flow from the springs. No 
explanation for this has been found. 

The following table condenses the available facts in regard to the 
springs : 



NONARTESTAN WATERS. 
Water supply at Willow Springs. 



51 



No. 



Locations. 



Northeast of hotel 

In gulch west of house . 



West of fence 

At west reservoir. 



8 East of west reservoir. 



Flow. 



2 ,700 gallons per hour . 
Seepage 



Slight 

360 gallons per hour. 



Total 

dissolved 

solids. 



Remarks. 



Parts per 

viillion. 

312 



Used for Irrigation and bathing; flows 

into a cement pool. 
This is called "borax spring" and is 

not used. 
Temperature 69°. 
A group of 7 or 8 springs which are led 

into a single channel and thence 

into a circular cement reservoir of 

60,(KX) gallons capacity. 
Used for domestic purposes. 



A number of shallow wells have been sunk at various points along 
the line of springs, and water of fair quality is obtained from them. 
None of these wells flow over the surface, although they appear to be 
plentifully supplied with water. 

The chemical character of the Willow Springs water is given in the 
table on page 57. 

The springs which rise along the scarp to the west of Willow Springs 
as far as sec. 11 of T. 9 N., R. 14 W., are similar in character and 
origin. Of these, Bean Spring, which includes three of the larger 
flows, is the most important. 

NONARTESIAN WATERS. 
DISTRIBUTION. 

The nonartesian waters include most of the shallow ground waters in 
the valley, and so far as known, all the ground waters near the margin 
of the valley. These waters have a source identical with that of the 
artesian supply; their difference lies in the fact that the nonartesian 
water possesses no appreciable head. 

In portions of the valley where the nonartesian water is found in 
considerable quantity and of fair quality it is usually the result 
either of upward leakage from underlying artesian zones or of accumu- 
lation of surface water above an impervious layer. Within the flow- 
ing area of the valley, waters, higher in dissolved solids and usually 
in rather small quantit}^, are found at depths ranging from a few 
inches to a number of feet below the surface. The position and 
quantity of these waters are delicately adjusted to the capillarity of 
the soil, the humidity of the atmosphere, the upper limit of percola- 
tion through the soil, and to leakage from the underlying artesian 
zones. If this upward leakage reaches a level, for example, of 25 
feet below the surface, capillarity in a soil of average texture may 
bring it 10 or 12 feet nearer the surface. If the depth thus reached 
is too great to be within the influence of evaporation, a plentiful 



52 



WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 



supply of fairly good water may be expected, but should the level be 
sufficiently near the surface of the ground the mineral content will 
become concentrated because of evaporation and the water supply 
will be more scanty. These conditions may account for the differ- 
ences in quality and quantity noted in the shallow wells of the 
Antelope Valley. 

NONARTESIAN SPRINGS. 

Springs of the nonartesian type have not been found in the valley 
proper, but they occur between the two larger hills of the Antelope 
Buttes northeast of Fairmont and among the buttes east of the 
valley. 

Springs of Antelope Buttes. — ^Water rises along the stream course 
in the E. J of sec. 31, T. 8 N., R. 14 W., at a couple of points, and 
after flowing a short distance toward the north again sinks beneath 
the gravels of the gulch. It is probable that these springs represent 
underflow from the region lying to the south, which has been brought 
to the surface because of the interruption offered to its flow by the 
bedrock of the buttes. Another explanation, however, may be that 
the waters percolating through the tuffaceous and gravelly upturned 
beds to the west strike the resistant underlying granitic bedrock, 
and so reach the surface at the contact between these porous and 
impervious formations. Reference to figure 9, which represents a 
cross section of the Love joy Buttes, will make clear conditions 
similar to those just described. 



N, 









FiGiTKE 9. — Diagram showing the origin of Lovejoy Springs. 

Lovejoy (Croswell) Springs. — The Lovejoy Buttes, extending east 
and west through the middle of T. 6 N., R. 9 W., serve as a practi- 
cally impervious dam to a large part of the waters percolating north- 
ward through the gravels of Big Rock Creek wash, and the Lovejoy 
(Croswell) Springs are excellent examples of springs whose origin is 
directly traceable to the overflow of dammed up ground waters. 

The lowest gap across the buttes extends northward between the 
two main groups as a deep gorge, which appears to have been orig- 
inally a channel for one of the distributaries of Rock Creek. It 



BEDROCK SPRINGS. 53 

is natural, therefore, that the underflow of the creek has found an 
outlet at the upper end of this gorge in springs which represent the 
emergence of the dammed up ground waters from the south which 
have been forced over the bedrock of Lovejoy Buttes much as shown 
in figure 9. An indication of the proximity of these ground waters 
to the surface in the region just south of the springs is found in the 
deposits of alkali there noted. It is believed that water, possibly 
artesian, may exist here in quantity and quality sufficiently satis- 
factory for economic use. Lovejoy Springs are at present used for 
stock, though indications of plowing and the remnant of a dam below 
the springs suggest that the water may have been used at some time 
in a very small way to irrigate a narrow strip of grain or garden. 

Moody Springs. — Near the center of the north line of sec. 15, T. 6 
N., R. 8 W., are Moody Springs, used by stock and the few travelers 
in the region. Though fairly palatable the water contains a much 
higher quantity of mineral matter than the artesian water of Antelope 
Valley. 

The reasons for the existence of this spring are similar to those for 
Lovejoy Springs, except that the obstruction to the underflow, a low, 
partly buried ridge of granitic rock, is not prominent. It extends 
across the course of the underflow in a northeast-southwest direction. 
It is possible that some water of an inferior quality may be obtained 
by wells in the flat east of the spring. 

BEDROCK SPRINGS. 

At many points in the foothills of the ranges inclosing Antelope 
Valley are springs which flow directly from the bedrock itself. They 
are not of great econonuc importance, but those which were noted 
in the course of the field work connected with the preparation of 
this report are briefly described. 

Springs on southwest slope of Teliachapi Range. — Springs are plenti- 
ful on the tributaries of Little Cottonwood Creek and usually escape 
from channels worn in the limestone of the metamorphic series so 
prominent in the Tehachapi Range. They have in the aggregate a 
considerable but unmeasured volume and must conduct some water 
into the gravels of this portion of Antelope Valley. They carry 
calcium in solution and have at certain points built rude low terraces 
of calcareous tufa below their outlets. Such a spring near the forks 
of Livsey Creek contains over 600 parts per million of dissolved 
sohds. 

The spring which supphes Knecht's ranch with water for domestic 
uses issues from granitic and metamorphic rocks, hence yields water 
that is much softer than that of the Livsey Creek Spring. 

GerUick Spring.— In the NW. I of sec. 16, T. 9 N., R. 13 W., just 
west of Mr. Gerbhck's house, is a spring which flows from the granite. 



54 WATEE KESOUKCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 




Figure 10. — Diagram showing possible 
origin of Gerblick Spring. 



The spring is said to fluctuate little in volume and its low mineraliza- 
tion, about 180 parts total dissolved solids per million parts of water, 
suggests a bedrock origin. In a nearby mining shaft a flow of water 
estimated at 7 miner's inches was encountered on a contact between 
''granite and porphyry," at a depth of 110 feet, and this water is 
believed to be a part of the supply tapped by the spring. The 

faulted condition of the bedrock in this 
vicinity probably affords a cause for this 
and other springs along the scarp between 
Gerblick's and Indian Springs. It is con- 
ceivable that artesian waters in gravels 
lying to the south of Gerbhck's may have 
found less constricted conduits along fault 
fractures in the bedrock than through the 
imperviousbeds of clay or cement directly 
above the artesian zone. Such a condi- 
tion is expressed in figure 10, in which a is the point of outflow and h 
the point of inlet for the water flowing upward through the fractures, 
represented by heavy black lines. 

Barrell Spring. — Barrell Spring, in sec. 7, T. 5 N., R. 11 W., has 
been a watering place for many years. It was not visited, but reports 
indicate that the water is apparently a seepage from the bedrock 
alongthe fractured zone of the San Andreas fault. 

Newquist ranch springs. — The springs at Newquist ranch, on the 
slopes south of the Palmdale reservoir, flow from an intrusive in the 
granitic rocks of the San Gabriel Range at a considerable elevation, and 
furnish sufficient water for domestic use. The water contains about 
270 parts of solid matter per million. 

Springs on Mrs. DaTiVs ranch. — In sec. 13, T. 6 N., R. 13 W., on 
Mrs. DahFs ranch, are springs that yield suflicient water for domestic 
purposes. The water is conducted to the house from a tunnel in 
the granitic and schistose foothills. A test of this water made at 
the faucet shows a mineral content considerably greater than 600 
parts per million. 

A spring in sec. 10, T. 6 N., R. 13 W., whose water is of somewhat 
better quality, has been used two years for irrigating a small garden 
patch. 

Spring at Keeves ranch. — At Keeves ranch, in sec. 14, T. 6 N., R. 
13 W., the springs furnish water of the same general character as 
that of neighboring springs. It is probably somewhat softer than 
that in section 10, and rises at the foot of a knob which at a distance 
resembles serpentine. 

Spring at Simmons' s ranch. — ^The water of the spring at Simmons's 
ranch rises in sec. 5, T. 6 N., R. 13 W., and is piped to the ranch 
house in sec. 32 of T. 7 N., R. 13 W., where it is used for domestic 



CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF GROUND WATERS. 55 

purposes. It contains about 550 parts dissolved matter per million 
and is palatable. 

Other betlrock springs occur in the neighborhood along the north 
slope of Portal Ridge, but nothing is known of the quality or quantity 
of their waters. 

MuJford (?) Spring. — A spring believed to be in sec. 31 of T. 7 N., 
R. 13 W., flows about 50 gallons per hour in the winter and somewhat 
less during the summer. It contains a low proportion of solid matter 
and is comparable in quality to the artesian waters of the valley. 

Springs at Geier's ranch. — The springs at Geier's ranch flow from 
granitic bedrock on the steep slope at an elevation of 2,940 feet just 
south of the ranch house in sec. 2T, T. 7 N., R. 14 W. The water 
contains less than 200 parts per million dissolved solids and is prob- 
ably as good as any of the bedrock waters along the south margin of 
Antelope Valley. 

Neenach water supply. — The settlement at Neenach and a number 
of the adjoining ranches obtain a supply of water from springs in the 
Sierra Pelona in the NE. i of T. 7 N., R. 17 W. The water of five 
springs is gathered through 1 ^-inch and 2-inch pipe lines and conducted 
to catch basins, thence through 4-inch, 3-inch, and 2-inch pipe suc- 
cessively, a distance of 7 miles to Neenach. A constant though 
variable supply is thus obtained which furnishes practically all the 
water for settlers in the main valley in this vicinity. 

The plant was installed 15 years ago by Henry Hatch, of Los 
Angeles, at a cost of $6,000, and the above information was obtained 
through his courtesy. 

Spring at La Liebre ranch house. — The water of the spring at La 
Liebre ranch house is hard, but its location and free flow make it 
one of the noted springs of the region. The flow amounts to 1,500 
gallons per hour, but so far as could be learned none of this water 
is used for irrigation, though the spring is admirably located at the 
head of an irrigable tract of alluvial land. 

CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF GROUND WATERS. 

ORIGIN. 

All the waters found within and adjacent to Antelope Valley had, 
at the time of their precipitation, the purity of rain water, and what- 
ever chemical differences they have since acquired are due to their 
solvent action on the various minerals with which they have come 
in contact during their passage over and through the rocks and soils. 
It is therefore evident that the character of the water is related to 
the chemical character of the rocks of the valley and its rim. 

In order to study the character of the waters of the valley in a 
general way, analyses were made of several waters whose electrical 



66 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

resistance had previously been determined by means of a modifica- 
tion of the Wheatstone bridge — an instrument devised in accordance 
with the principle that the resistance offered to the passage of an 
electric current through water decreases as the proportion of dis- 
solved solids in the water increases. The resistance as actually 
measured is reduced to an equivalent resistance at a standard tem- 
perature of 60° F., and by the use of a curve based on actual analyses 
and corresponding bridge tests, resistance may be reduced to pro- 
portionate parts of solid matter in a given quantity of water. Al- 
though the electrolytic method of determining the quantity of 
dissolved solids in a water is not accurate, it furnishes "a simple and 
rapid means of distinguishing relative amounts of total solids with 
sufficient correctness for many purposes. All determinations for 
the Geological Survey are stated in parts of solid matter per million 
parts of water. 

Waters which contain 150 parts or less of solid matter per million 
may be considered excellent; those containing more than 500 or 
600 parts per million are inferior; those with intermediate amounts 
represent ordinary types of natural waters. 

The waters in any region may differ considerably in quality^ 
although the explanation may not be obvious. Such differences may 
be due to a variety of causes, among which may be mentioned the 
presence of soluble mineral matter along the course of the under- 
flow, different water temperature with consequent different solvent 
power, and concentration of water due to evaporation. This last 
cause is usually important only in regions where the ground waters 
are ponded near the surface so that free circulation is impeded and 
evaporation induced. It is probable that much of the ''caliche" 
or ''cement" (hardpan) found beneath portions of Antelope Valley 
and already referred to in discussing the well logs (pp. 38-39) has been 
formed as a result of deposition from percolating waters at a period 
when the horizon at which they occur was at the surface. The 
"honeycomb" cement may be a result of partial re-solution of 
material already deposited. It is usually an excellent conduit for 
artesian v/aters, while the more compact "cement" is equally effec- 
tive in confining the waters to less impervious layers of sand and 
gravel. 

ANALYSES. 

The following table shows the chemical character of six repre- 
sentative waters in the Antelope Valley : 



CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF GROUND WATERS. 

Analyses of Antelope Valley waters. 
[Walton Van Winkle, analyst. Quantities In parts per mllllon.l 



57 



WeUs. 


Owners. 


Total 
Locations, dis- 
solved. 


SiOs. 


Fe. Ca. 

1 


Mg. 


Na+K. 


CO,. 


HCOa. 


SOi. 


CI. 


N0|. 


270 
265 
253 
146 
51 
(°) 


Morford, S.J 

Mosby, John 

Vevsette 

Hahn, 15. W 

Post.C. N 

HamUton,E.M.. 

Average for 
6 waters 


14-18-12 
26- 9-12 
22- 7-13 

8- 7-11 
10- 7-13(?) 

7- 9-13 


330 
460 
267 
161 
283 
312 


52.0 
45.0 
39.0 
39.0 
10.0 
25.0 


0.84' 5.1 
.SO 5.7 
. 05 30. 
.07 23.0 
. 08 40. 
. 25 44. 


6.2 
1.8 
12.0 
3.7 
7.0 
9.1 


102 
154 
41 
25 
64 
54 


19.0 

9.6 

.0 

6.0 

.0 

.0 


196 
325 
140 
90 
176 
155 


54 
55 
31 
25 
44 
101 


65 
29 
18 
5.5 
25 
19 


0.64 

.0 

30.0 

1.7 

7.0 




302. 2 36. 


.36 25.63 


6.63 


71.66 


5.77 


182.33 


51.67 


17.17 


6.56 















o Willow Springs No. 1. 

Wliere mineralized water issues at the ground surface, evaporation 
usually results in the deposition of a portion of the mineral content in 
crusts upon or as cementing material in the adjacent surficial deposits. 
Examples of such travertine deposits are found on the southwest slope 
of the Tehachapi Range, in front of Bean Springs and Willow Springs, 
and at other points where springs issue. None of the artesian wells 
noted, carry sufficient mineral matter to leave a deposit on the casing. 
Some of them, however, contain sulphur enough to produce a yellow- 
ish deposit on the algss usually found inside the casing of wells which 
have fallen into disuse. 

FORMATION OF ALKALI. 

Over a portion of Antelope Valley, especially in the lower part of 
the area of flowing wells, the surface of the ground is more or less 
spotted with incrustations of '^alkali." Three varieties of this are 
found; one, a ''white alkali," is sodium sulphate; another, called 
''black alkali," from its darkening effect on vegetable tissue, is 
sodium carbonate; and the third is sodium chloride or common salt. 
Of the first two, the more injurious to plant life is the black alkali, as 
it has a tendency to hydrolize and form the harmful NaOH, which 
has a disintegrating effect on organic tissue. Except where under- 
draining and flushing of the alkali-ridden soils can be resorted to the 
most effective method of disposing of the black alkali is by the use of 
gypsum as a fertilizer; by this means the harmful salt is changed to 
the less injurious sulphate.^ 

Incrustations of alkali are seldom found except where the water 
plane is near the surface. Where this is the condition the effect of 
capillarity is to gradually raise the water to the surface and with it 
the dissolved mineral matter. As evaporation takes place this 
mineral matter is precipitated, and hence at and near the surface 
forms an incrustation which yields readily to the solvent action of 

» Waring, G. A., Geology and water resources of a portion of south-central Oregon: Water-Supply Paper 
U. S. Geol. Survey No. 220, 1908, pp. 75-76. 



58 WATER BESOUKCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

rain or flowing surface water and so ma}^ be distributed to other por- 
tions of the surface. A very effective agent for the distribution and 
increase of surface alkaH in Antelope Valley is the waste from un' 
capped artesian wells, and so long as the illegal practice of allowmg 
such waste is persisted in, the natural accumulation of alkali at the 
surface will be increased. The following analyses show the com- 
position of white incrustation from the margin of pools whose water 
is saturated with sulphates, clilorides, and carbonates of sodium. 
The pools are near Buckhorn Springs and the data are available 
through the courtesy of E. V. Bray, of Berkeley, Cal., who states that 
large efflorescent crystals of sulphate of sodium occur in the mud of 
the vicinity. 

Percentages of sodium carbonate in incrustations from margin of pools near Buckhorn 

Springs, Cal. 

[Databy E. V. Bra5\] 



No. of 
sample. 



Localities. 



Fluff J' stuff, west pool 

Surface crust, east pool near pit 

Extreme north shore of east pool near pit 

North end of big pool 

Crust sacked in shed (well dried) 

Cnist east of east pool 

Hard crust in west pool 



Per cent of 
Na2C03. 



21.7 
37.7 
7.67 
15.33 
44.96 
30.14 
48.54 



The remaining percentage of each of these samples is a mixture of 
sulphates and clilorides. 

QUANTITY OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS* 

The determinations of total solids for the Antelope Valley waters 
indicate a range from somewhat less than 1 50 parts to over 600 parts 
of solid matter per million parts of water. 

The broadest distinction as to mineralization is that between the 
artesian and most of the nonartesian waters. Of these two groups 
the former, with a very few exceptions, are low in dissolved solids 
and ranli well among artesian waters of the Pacific coast. Some of 
the nonartesian waters, especially in wells near the margin of the 
valley, are poorer and at some points, particularly along the San 
Andreas fault zone, contain large quantities of mineral matter in 
solution. The waters of bed rock springs also show a considerable 
range in mineralization, as already indicated. 

In and near the flowing area the best water, that containing 150 to 
200 parts of dissolved solids per million, is found in most wells within 
an ill-defined area extending from the southwest portion of sec. 20, 
T. 7 N., R. 12 W., eastward and north through Lancaster and thence 
eastward along the N. J of T. 7 N., R. 11 W., and the southern part of 
T. 8 N., R. 11 W. 



FALLACIES REGARDING UNDERGROUND WATERS. 59 

Water containing 200 to 250 parts of dissolved solids per million 
parts of water is found between Lancaster and a line swinging north 
and south about a mile east of Esperanza. From Reid's ranch 
eastward and northeast of Redman's ranch, thence in a broad zone 
westward toward Oban, and thence southwest toward east Esperanza 
is an indefinitely bounded zone in which waters contain 200 to 250 
parts of sohds per miUion parts of water. 

Water in the remaining portion of the area of flowing wells, which 
includes the neighborhood east and north of Redman's ranch and the 
vicinity of Esperanza besides the broad region between Rosamond 
and Rogers dry lake and between Rosamond and Esperanza, usually 
contains slightly higher percentages of solids although not enough 
to affect its potability, for all of the water obtained from flowing 
wells is of excellent quality. 

Data as to the mineralization of waters from shallow and other 
nonartesian wells are scanty, but in general such waters, except those 
found well out in Antelope Valley, contain 250 parts or more of solid 
matter per million parts of water. The general rule, that the quantity of 
dissolved solids decreases toward the valley margin holds good. Ex- 
ceptions to this rule have been noted at Palmdale and Old Palmdale, 
where four of the six wells examined contain water that is moderately 
mineralized, and at the Barnes ranch in sec. 14, T. 8 N., R. 17 W., where 
the water contains between 200 and 250 parts per million of solids. 
In general the shallow water developed at several points along the 
foot of the Rosamond Buttes between Rosamond and Willow Springs 
is, perhaps because of the proxinuty of the flexed or faulted zone 
already described, of better quality than that in wells in alluvium 
along the north slope of Portal Ridge between Del Sur and Palmdale. 

HYGIENIC CONDITIONS. 

Except where shallow waters may have been contaminated by 
alkali or drainage from stables or outhouses, the ground water of the 
main Antelope Valley may be considered free from injurious quanti- 
ties of organic or mineral matter. In some of the wells near the 
foothills, however, the amount of dissolved mineral matter may be 
sufficiently high to prove deleterious, although Httle complaint is 
heard of bad effects among those who have been in the habit of using 
the water. 

FALLACIES REGARDING UNDERGROUND WATERS. 
SUPPOSITIONAL SOURCES. 

It may be considered beyond the province of an official report to 
give space to the consideration of the various untenable theories 
advanced from time to time regarding the source and inexhaustibility 
of the artesian waters of Antelope Valley. It is natural that the 



60 WATEB RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

sight of a flowing or spouting well, especially in an arid region, should 
induce speculation as to the source of the water and as to the reasons 
for its flow; it is also natural that the simplest explanation therefor 
should be overlooked in the search for some more dramatic if less 
likely reason. In order that the reader may not take too seriously 
some of the fantastic theories locally advanced as to the origin of the 
well waters of the valley, a brief discussion of some of them has been 
included with the report. 

It is held by some that a free underground channel extends from 
the lower Owens River or from Owens Lake to the artesian basin of 
Antelope Valley. In support of this it is contended that Owens Lake 
has no visible outlet and the great quantity of water brought into the 
lake by the river has no escape except by underground leakage. 
Where, it is asked, can this water escape to if not into Antelope Val- 
ley ? In answer, it need only be pointed out, first, that Owens Lake 
is strongly saline because of an evaporation sufficiently high to remove 
annually more water than it receives; second, that in the hundred- 
mile stretch of country between Owens Valley and Antelope Valley 
there are many bedrock masses, such as buttes and desert mountain 
ranges, which would absolutely prevent percolation underground be- 
tween the two points; and, third, that the existence of a free under- 
ground channel over 100 miles long is utterly unproved, and no 
features observed in the region point to its possibility. So far as Owens 
Lake is concerned the high salinity of its waters proves the absurdity 
of considering it as a source of the pure waters of the Lancaster region. 

A much less fantastic though still untenable theory to account for 
the head developed in waters of Antelope Valley assumes that the 
water which falls as rain or snow in the upper portion of the moun- 
tains, finding its way into the artesian basin through fractures and 
channels in the bedrock, becomes in this way the artesian supply of 
the valley. It is quite true that a small portion of the ground 
waters may be fed into the basin in this manner, but the close- 
grained, impervious, granitic mass of the San Gabriel, San Bernar- 
dino, and Tehachapi ranges offers a most effective barrier to perco- 
lation, and the very small amount of precipitation in the region north 
and east of Antelope Valley indicates that correspondingly small 
amounts of water enter the generally impervious rocks there. It is 
evident that a still smaller part of such absorbed water would ever 
reach the valley. 

In both of these theories of origin for ground waters, the most 
natural sources, i. e., streams debouching into the valley from its 
marginal ranges, are entirely overlooked. It is argued without suffi- 
cient knowledge of the facts that the amount of water which these 
streams introduce is insufficient to account for the abundance of 
water in the gravels beneath the valley floor, but apparently the very 



FALLACIES REGARDING UNDERGROUND WATERS. 61 

important factor of time is neglected. It must be remembered that 
for hundreds of centuries these streams have intermittently carried 
unmeasured quantities of water into the gravels where, sinking beyond 
the reach of evaporation, they have accumulated and filled the rock 
basin to the level of the lowest point in its rim. 

USE OF THE "WATER WITCH." 

In Antelope Valley, as elsewhere, believers in that curious anachro- 
nism, the old 'Svater witch" superstition, are still occasionally met. 
It is difficult to give to this belief sufficiently serious consideration 
to discuss it in an official report. At best some of the operators 
of the device may be self-deluded, but by far the greater number 
are no doubt simply shrewd charlatans who have some experience 
with conditions in the field in which they operate, and combining 
this knowledge wdth such successes as will fall to their lot simply 
from the operation of the law of chances succeed in convincing some 
individuals in an uninformed public that there is virtue in their 
method. The danger of a false prophecy is, naturally, materially 
lessened when the ' 'location" is made, as it usually is, in a region 
known to be generally underlain by abundant water. A prediction 
that water will be found anywhere in the central part of Antelope 
Valley is safe; hence success there should not be permitted to serve 
as a foundation for a reputation for occult powers on the part of a 
wielder of a forked twig. It is even conceivable that some assump- 
tions as to depth to water might be correctly made by the locator 
if his knowledge of other wells in the region were at all complete. 

The attempt to use the ''witch" to locate oil in Antelope Valley 
resulted, as would be expected, in disastrous failure, since two wholly 
unsuccessful wells, which are stated to have cost over $20,000, were 
drilled on the advice of an operator of the implement. 

INEXHAUSTIBILITY OF ARTESIAN SUPPLY. 

The most generally accepted fallacy, and one which, unfortunately 
enough, is most harmful of all to the continued welfare of the Ante- 
lope Valley, assumes that because wells have flowed generously in 
the past and some are flowing even too abundantly during the pres- 
ent they may be expected to flow for all time, no matter how many 
are drilled or how much water is withdrawn from the underground 
reservoir. The acceptance of this theory has resulted in most of the 
injurious practices with reference to artesian water in the valley, and 
too much emphasis can not be given to the statement that the arte- 
sian supply is not inexhaustible, and that if the riotous waste of water 
is continued during future settlement of the valley, wells now flowing 
will have to be pumped, and the water level in many of the present 
piunping wells may be expected to fall below the limit of profitable lift. 



62 WATER EESOUECES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

PRESENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
NTTMBEB. OF WELLS. 

Keference to the map (PL VI, in pocket) shows that wells have 
been sunk in greatest number along the southern margin of Antelope 
Valley, especially between Del Sur and the vicinity of Reid's ranch. 
In all more than 350 wells of all types were examined in the course 
of this investigation, and of these nearly 75 per cent are flowing. 

Although the sinking of wells in the valley began as long ago as 
the seventies, the most pronounced development has taken place in 
the last 15 years. Drillers reported in 1908-9 that indications were 
favorable to a very considerable increase in the number of wells, 
especially in and adjacent to the flowing area. The table on pages 
70-89 gives condensed information regarding wells which were visited 
or concerning which data were obtained. 

NONARTESIAN WELLS. 

The shallower surface wells and, at the west end of the valley 
especially, some of considerable depth have been dug by hand. A 
well in which the soil and underlying beds prove of sufficient strength 
to ^' stand up" without lagging is considered ready for use when 
windmill and pump or other form of lift is installed at the sur- 
face. Judging from the number of caved-in surface wells, some of 
which are said to have obtained good water, this sort of construc- 
tion for any except the shallowest wells is more expensive in the 
long run than that of a lined well. Shallow wells of the most satis- 
factory type, at least where the water tapped is in sufficient quan- 
tity, are those sunk according to artesian well methods — that is, by 
boring, casing, and perforating. Long buckets, adapted in diam- 
eter to the size of the well and furnished with inlet valves at the 
bottom, are used in such wells where the more effective methods of 
windmill or gas engine and pump have not been installed. The 
usual method of lift for nonartesian wells in the valley is the windmill, 
and because of the prevalence of winds during a great part of the 
year this is very satisfactory where the water is used only for domestic 
purposes and for stock. On the Dobey ranch, near Victorville, a 
double fan windmill raises water successfully from a depth of more 
than 300 feet, and this method should commend itself to settlers in 
Antelope Valley who are not in a position to install gas or steam 
pumping plants for deep nonartesian waters. 

ARTESIAN WELLS. 

The artesian wells of small bore, most of them less than 4 inches 
and some of them as little as 2 inches in diameter, sunk in the earlier 
days, were of little economic value, their purpose being usually only 
a step toward the obtaining of patents. In some places the depth 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 27H PLATE VII 




.1. TYPE OF WELL-DRILLING RIG USED IN ANTELOPE VALLEY. 
See page 63. 




B. INSERTING PERFORATED CASING IN PARTLY COMPLETED 
ARTESIAN WELL. 

See page 63. 



ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 63 

to water is tested witli small holes, but for actual use in irrigation 
wells 4 to 8 inches in diameter are most in favor, thoutijh there is 
at present a tendency toward the sinkmg of even larger holes. It 
is believed that except for pumpnig plants a diameter of 10 inches 
is about the maximum economical size where cost and serviceability 
are to be considered. Plate VII illustrates two phases of the drilling 
methods in common use in the region. 

Earth reservoirs for storing artesian waters are used almost exclu- 
sively throughout the valley except where pumping plants have 
been installed. The greatest economy in the use of such plants is 
obtained by pumping the waters directly to the crops. 

Reservoirs are usually constructed by dragging and tampmg 
earth around the margin of the excavation from which it lias been 
taken so as to form a levee 3 or 4 feet high. Most of these reser- 
voirs are 40 to 200 feet long and about two-thirds as broad, with a 
depth of 5 or 6 feet in the central portion. Formerly wells were sunk 
in the center of such reservoirs, but, because of the difficulty of get- 
ting at them and the possibility of cloggiug, this practice has given 
way to the better one of placing the well near by outside the reservoir 
and constructing a short flume or ditch through which the water 
discharges into it. As a measure of protection against leakage and 
evaporation the levees are generally planted with willow or cotton- 
wood trees. 

PUMPING PLANTS. 

The latest and the most scientific phase of water development in 
Antelope Valley is found in the use of pumping plants for irrigation. 
Not only are these plants installed on welLs outside of the flowing 
area but even where a good flow exists, the yield of the flowing wells 
being thereby greatly increased and without permanent detriment, 
so fal" as known, to neighboriag wells. 

COST OF WELLS. 

The cost and character of lift are briefly stated in the tabulated 
well data (pp. 70-89). Mr. M. J. Reynolds, of Lancaster, who has had 
large experience in well drilling in the valley, states that for average 
conditions the costs of drilling wells to a depth of 250 feet ranges from 
60 cents per foot for a 4-uich well to 90 cents per foot for a 6-inch well, 
including casing. 

EXAMPLES OF WELL DEVELOPMENT. 

Post ranch. — The ranch belonging to Charles N. Post, of Chicago and 
Pasadena, includes the SE. i sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 13 W. It is one of 
several ranches which together are known as Esperanza, a settlement 
about 6 miles west of Lancaster. As it lies near the margin of the 
flowing area, it is comparatively free from alkali troubles and yet is 



64 



WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 



abundantly supplied with artesian water. The general arrangement 
of fields in this ranch is shown in figure 11; the fields planted to 
alfalfa have been irrigated from the adjacent reservoirs, but the 
larger of these fields is to be converted into a ''cienaga pasture" by 
allowing the water from reservoir No. 3 to spread over it and keep the 
ground moist, thereby insuring the growth of natural grasses. It is 
proposed to plant a portion of the large oat field to alfalfa and to 
irrigate this from the pumping plant at the extreme northwest corner 



0-53 a-* 
PUMPIN& PLANT 



wm y 



^S2 



»Ar WELISO 
OSI YARD 
WELL 



cow PASTURE 



GARDEN 



-.qWELL 54- 
WATER qWELL SS 
TROUGH qWELL 56 



OAT FIELD 




w£uo §!_ 



WELL 



S9 
IVELL 



ALFALFA FIELD 

NO Z 



ALFALFA FIELD 
NO / 



Wf£i&4a 



600 
L_ 



800 



HO/fSS CO/fffAL 



Figure 11.— Sketch map of Post ranch. 

of the property. This plant comprises two adjoining wells sunk to 
depths of 275 and 418 feet, respectively, each of which yields flowing 
water. In the deeper well the upper flow, at about 275 feet, is cased 
off and only the water at 330 and 418 feet used. It is stated that the 
combined flow of these wells on completion was 40 miner's inches. A 
Byron- Jackson centrifugal pump No. 5 is connected with the wells, 
and this pump, worked by a 15-horsepower Fairbanks-Morse gas 
engine, throws a stream measured at 102.5 miner's inches. At pres- 



ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 65 

ent 40 acres of alfalfa is irrigated by this plant. The total cost of 
the engine, wells, housing, and pump was $1,600. 

Well No. 50 (table and map), which normally has only a slight flow, 
ceases entirely durmg the operation of the pumping plant. Its nor- 
mal head is insuflicient ordinarily to raise the water in a pipe more 
than a few feet above the ground, and to make it effective for domes- 
tic purposes a small windmill has been installed above it, and the 
water is lifted to a tank 19 feet above the surface. 

Wells 54, 55, and 56 (see table) are used only for stock watering at 
present, as their flow, never very large, is insufficient for irrigation. 
A sample of water from well No. 51 on this ranch was taken for anal- 
ysis, and the results obtained may be found in the table of analyses 
on page 57. 

Marigold ranch. — Adjoining the Post ranch on the west is the Mari- 
gold ranch, which includes 160 acres in sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 13 W. 
It belongs to George Marigold, of Los Angeles. Mr. W. Ohlson, mana- 
ger of the ranch, states that the developments here represent work 
during the past three years only. Trees and hedges have been planted 
and substantial buildings weU adapted to the needs of the region 
constructed. 

The pumping plant consists of a Byron- Jackson centrifugal No. 5 
and an 18-horsepower Western gas engine, which develops sufficient 
powxr to give a yield of between 150 and 170 miner's inches of water 
from two adjoining wells. One of these wells, 590 feet deep, flowed 
but 7 miner's inches originally, and the other, though artesian, had only 
sufficient head to bring the water to about 16 feet from the surface. 
The total cost of the wells and plant was $2,500. The distribution of 
crops on tliis ranch is unlaiown, but Mr. Ohlson states that 35 acres 
of alfalfa and 5 acres of onions, besides a number of young eucalyptus 
and other trees and garden truck, are irrigated. 

Coleman. — The Coleman ranch, in sec. 20, T. 7 N., R. 12 W., is cited 
as an example of what may be accomphshed, especially in the growing 
of alfalfa by careful, unremitting attention to the varying conditions 
governing profitable agriculture in Antelope Valley. The water is 
furnished by several flowing wells and a 509-foot artesian well (No. 
177), over which a pumping plant, consisting of a 10-horsepower Sterns 
gas engine and a No. 5 centrifugal pump, has been installed. This 
plant is capable of increasing the yield of the well from about 8 to 40 
miner's inches of water, which is used on alfalfa. Though the wells 
near this plant show the effect of pumping by the diminution of their 
flow, return to normal conditions follows soon after the plant is shut 
down. WeU No. 178, about a quarter of a mile east of the plant, 
though it fluctuates seasonally, is not affected by the pumping. 

Other ranches. — Other of the larger holdings in the flowing area of 
the vpUey belong to C. N. Reid, in sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 11 W.; to the 
95093°— wsp 278-11 5 



66 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Meadow Springs Lana & Cattle Co.; in sec. 14, T. 7 N., R. 11 W.; to 
Oliver Miller, in sec. 6, T. 7 N., R. 11 W.; M. H. Cheney in sec 2, T. 
7 N., R. 12 W.; and to others, the size of whose ranches is not avail- 
able. Many small properties, particularly in the neighborhood of 
Lancaster, yield their quota of alfalfa and other produce, and a per- 
sonal study of the methods employed in the use of water upon these 
tracts of small acreage will repay the intending settler. 

ABUSE OF ARTESIAN RESOURCES. 

Reference has already been made to the waste of artesian water in 
Antelope Valley and its effect on the pressure head which governs the 
flow. No figures are available which can give, even approximately, 
the total volume of water thus needlessly lost. At the time the field 
was visited 60 uncapped wells, flowing from 1 to 15 miner's inches each, 
were wasting 2,721,600 gallons per day, or an amount amply suffi- 
cient for the daily needs of a city of 25,000 people. At this rate the 
loss would amount to about 1,000,000,000 gallons of water per 3^ear. 
Aside from this gross misuse of the resource most essential to the 
continued prosperity of the valley, the waste is attended by several 
other results equally bad. After wells have been flowing without 
control for some time, even when much of the water has found fairly 
definite channels of escape, a large portion of the lands in the vicin- 
ity become water-soaked and sour. They are thus not only rendered 
infertile, but in some places they become so boggy that the miring of 
stock in them has become a mere commonplace instead of the basis 
for legal action against the lawbreaker who habitually leaves his 
wells uncapped. Waste is also a prime factor in causing the rise of 
alkali and in effecting its distribution over lands possibly otherwise 
cultivable; in this connection the recent poisoning of cattle as a re- 
sult of drinking alkali-saturated surface water should be noted by stock 
owners. One well. No. 68 (table), in sec. 10, T. 8. N., R 12 W., about 
3 miles south of Mr. Morgan's place, is a source of waste water which, 
though pure where it escapes from the ground, dissolves much alkali 
from the near-by flats. This well was visited by the writer, and he 
remembers the difficulty of driving along the boggy road and across 
the marshes which it has created during several years of uncontrolled 
flow. A conservative estimate places the waste from this well at 
35,000,000 gallons per year. Well No. 256, which spouted vertically 
Si feet through a 1^- inch opening in a plug at the time it was visited, 
is located in sec. 12, T. 7 N., R. 13 W. This well is stated to have 
been uncapped almost since completion a number of years ago. A 
pool, formed around the well, is the source of a stream which flows 
toward the northeast for several miles and finally coalesces with the 
overflow from other wells to form sloughs and ponds of stagnant, 
strongly alkaline water. 



ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 67 

This well was again visited on June 12, 1910, when it was found to 
be still uncapped, despite the warnings given during the preceding 
^vinter. 

The California State law (L., 1877-78, p. 195) })rovides a remedy for 
this misuse of artesian wells. The attention of residents of the valley 
and local law ollicers is directed to the following sections: 

Any artesian well which is not capped or furnished with such mechanical appli- 
ances as will readily and effectively arrest and prevent the flow of water from such 
well is hereby declared to be a public nuisance. The owner, tenant, or occupant 
of the land upon which such well is situated who causes, permits, or suffers such 
public nuisance, or suffers or permits it to remain or continue, is guilty of a misde- 
meanor. 

Also section 2, that — 

Any person owning, possessing, or occupying any land upon which is situated an 
artesian well who causes, suffers, or permits the water to unnecessarily flow from such 
well or go to waste is guilty of a misdemeanor. 

For the purpose of this act an artesian well is defined (sec. 3) as 
''any artificial well the waters of which will flow continuously over 
the surface of the ground adjacent to such well at any season of the 
year;" and w^aste is defined (sec. 4) as follows: 

The causing, suffering, or permitting the waters flowing from such well to run into 
any river, creek, or other natural watercourse or channel, or into any bay, lake, or 
pond, or into any street, road, highway, or upon the land of any person other than that 
of the owner of such well, or upon the public lands of the United States or of the State 
of California, unless it be used thereon for the purposes and in the manner that it may 
be lawfully used upon the land of the owner of such well: Provided, That this section 
shall not be so construed as to prevent the use of such waters for the proper irrigation 
of trees standing along or upon the street, road, or highway, or for ornamental ponds, 
or for the propagation of fish. 

A fine of not less than $10 or more than $50, together with the cost 
of prosecution, is assessed against those convicted of violating any of 
the provisions of this act, and the supervisors or roadmasters are em- 
powered to enter upon the premises where wells complained of are 
situated and to institute action where violations of the provisions of 
this act are discovered. 

FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 

Antelope Valley has by no means reached the limit of development 
of its underground waters, but intending settlers and all others who 
have the interests of the region at heart must recognize its limita- 
tions in comparison with those of particularly favored regions in 
other parts of California. 

The elevation and climatic conditions limit definitely the range of 
agricultural products to such crops as will grow in a temperate region 
of mild winters but hot summers. The products of the valley at 
present find a market in Los Angeles and the desert mining districts 



68 WATER RESOUECES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

to the north and northeast, and except as to a few special products, 
hke almonds, pears, and apples, the valley competes with other pro- 
ducing areas in various parts of southern Cahfornia. 

One of the factors that agitates the settler whose aim is the agri- 
cultural development of the region has been the unrestricted ranging 
of cattle. This is a condition that is usual in regions that are passing 
from the period of development represented by the cattle and sheep 
industry to that represented by agriculture. Happily, a better 
understanding between the cattle owners and the agriculturists is 
already being brought about and a conciliatory attitude has been 
reached which would not have been possible a few years since. 

One of the greatest drawbacks in the agricultural development of 
the Antelope Valley region is the alkaU which occurs at and near the 
surface over large portions of the flowing area. This is a very com- 
mon condition in areas of flow in arid and semiarid valleys in the 
West, and intending purchasers and settlers must be alert to its 
dangers. Certain of the lowlands of the valley are so alkaline that 
they can not be reclaimed; others, although alkaline, are cultivable 
with proper precautions; still other higher lands, chiefly outside the 
area of flow or near its borders, are free from injurious amounts of 
the alkahne salts. For the guidance of settlers and the protection 
of prospective investors there is urgent need of a systematic soil and 
alkali survey of the type made by the Bureau of Soils in the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture. 

MAPS AND WELL. DATA. 

The map of Antelope YaUey (PI. VI, in pocket) indicates approxi- 
mately, in addition to the general cultural and topographic fea- 
tures of the region, the distribution of the water-bearing and non 
water-bearing areas and the approximate outHne of the flowing 
areas. The locations of most of the wells which had been sunk to 
January, 1909, inclusive, are shown. Nonflowing weUs are indicated 
by an open circle, flowing wells by a sohd dot, and pumping plants 
by a circle inclosing a sohd dot when located over flowing wells and 
by two concentric open circles when over nonflowing weUs. Each 
well is numbered, or where weUs are too close together to be clearly 
indicated separately, a letter symbol is used upon the map and in the 
tables to indicate such groups. These numbers and letters refer to 
the table on pages 70-89, which gives essential facts of ownership, 
location, time of completion, class, depth, method of Hft, cost, use, 
and total dissolved soUds. As the temperature of the waters has 
a narrow range and does not indicate any particular condition of 
interest to the owner, it has been omitted from the table. 

A map of Lancaster showing well locations in the town is also 
included with the report (p. 41). 



MAPS AND WELL DATA. 69 

The data upon which tliis table is based were collected by the 
author, with the veiy material assistance of owners and drillers 
throughout the valley. Especial thanks are due to Mr. M. J. Rey- 
nolds, whose systematic method of keeping records and logs of wells 
drilled during several years past and courtesy in making these avail- 
able are greatly appreciated. 



70 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region. 



No. of 
well. 



1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 

9 
10 
11 
12 
13a 

13b 

14 

15a 

15b 
16 

17 
17a 

18 
19a 

19b 

20 

21 



22 

23 
24 
25 
26 

27 
28 

29 
30 
31 
32 

33 

34 
35 
36 
37 

38 
39 
40 
41a 



41b 



42a 

42b 

42c 

43a 

43b 

43c 

44 

45 



OAvner. 



James Barnes 

Vv. M. Fisher 

Neenach School 

O.Caldwell 

Southern Pacific. 
Tom \/. Gentry... 

Arnold 

American Mexi- 
can Cattle Co. 

(?) 

(?) 

A. A. UUman 

Mrs.E. B.Potter., 
F.D.Day 



do 

J. D. Gerblick... 
E.M. Hamilton. 

do 

S. O. Fowler 



Home Mining Co. 
Chas. A. Graves.. 



Caliss Spencer. 
Bailey.. 



.----do.(?) 

F. R. Thomas. 
J. F. Glasgow. 



J. E.Johnson. 



Frank Godde 

Wm. Strattman. . . 

Jake Ablutz 

Los Angeles 
County. 

H.N.Smith 

Mrs.M.H.Schieb- 
ler. 

Slater & Goldstein. 

W. B. Nimmo 

Mrs. Herbst. 

Alexander Mac- 
ready. 

Mitchell & John- 
son. 

Mrs. Jones. . 

George Marigold . . 

Sanders (?).. 

D r . Manning . 

■Handinger.. 



Charley Smith. 
Frank Geier. 
AV. Ohlson.. 



.do. 



R. Riddell 

do 

do 

Reese Snowden. 

do 

do 

do 

Tote. Alston... 



Location. 



Sec.l4,T.8N, 
Sec.6,T.8N. 
Sec.l8,T.8N 
Sec.lO,T.8N, 
Sec.l5,T.8N, 
Sec.l4,T.8N, 
Sec.l3,T.8N. 
Sec.30,T.9N, 



,R.17W. 
,R.16W. 
.,R.16W. 
,R.16W. 
„R.16W. 
,,R.16W. 
,R.16W. 
,,R.14W, 



Sec.6,T.8N.,R.14W.. 
Sec.31,T.8N.,R.14W. 
Sec.36,T.8N.,R.15W. 
Sec.lO,T.7N.,R.14W. 
Sec.6,T.8N.,R.13W. 

do 



Sec.l6,T.9N.,R.13W, 
Sec.22,T.9N.,R.13W. 

do 



Sec.l4,T.9N.,R.13W. 



.do. 
.do. 



Sec.24,T.9N.,R.13W, 
Sec.l8,T.9N.,R.12W. 



.do. 



Sec.l4,T.9N.,R.14W, 
Sec.20,T.9N.,R.13W, 



Sec.l9,T.7N.,R.13W. 

Sec.2,T.6N.,R.13W. 

Sec.ll,T.6N.,R.13W. 
Sec.34,T.7N.,R.13W. 
Sec.l9,T.7N.,R.13W. 

Sec.l8,T.7N.,R.13W. 
Sec.20,T.7N.,R.13W. 

Sec.l7,T.7N.,R.13W. 
Sec.l3,T.7N.,R.14W. 
Sec.l4,T.7N.,R.14W. 
Sec.l2,T.7N.,R.14W. 

Sec.l,T.7N.,R.14W. 

Sec.2,T.7N.,R.14W. 
Sec.l4,T.7N.,R.14W. 
Sec.34,T.8N.,R.14W. 
Sec.36,T.8N.,R.14W. 

Sec.24,T.8N.,R.14W. 
Sec.26,T.8N.,R.14W. 
Sec.l5,T.7N.,R.14W. 
Sec.lO,T.7N.,R.13W, 



.do. 



Sec.2,T.7N.,R.13W. 

do 

do 

Sec.ll,T.7N.,R.13W, 

do : 

do 

do 

Sec.ll.T.7N.,R.13W, 



Year 
com- 
pleted. 



1893 



1898? 
1894? 
1895? 



1891 



1881? 
1908 

1908 
1904 

1888 

1888 



1904 
1904 

1908 
1907 



1907 



1890 

1888 
1888 



1890? 

1898 
1890 

1890 
1885 
1886 
1886 

1889 

1886 
1900? 
1890 
1887 



1886 
1885 
1905 



1906 



1904 
..do.. 
..do.. 



1898? 



Class of well. 



8-inch, bored 
do 



Dug 

do 

do 

6-inch, bored 



7-inch, bored 

5-inch, bored 

Bored 



10-inch, bored... 
7-inch, bored 

do 

7f-inch, bored... 
5-inch, bored 

do 



10-inch, bored. 
Bored 



7-inch, bored. . 
do 



Bored. 
do. 



Dug, 3 by 4 feet. 



6-inch, bored. 



Dug 

do 

Dug, 3 by 4 feet. 
Bored.. 



do 

3-inch, bored. . . 



6-inch, bored 

do 

Bored 

Dug, 4 by 3 feet. 

13-inch, bored. . . 

7-inch, bored 

5-inch, bored 

7-inch, bored 

14-inch, bored... 

Dug, 4 by 4 feet. 

7-inch, bored 

do 

6f-inch, bored... 



.do. 



6-inch, bored. 
3-inch, bored. 

do 

5-inch, bored. 

do 

do 

8-inch, bored. 
5-inch, bored. 



Depth to water a 
(feet). 



30.. 
94.. 
200. 
200. 
40.. 
110. 



180. 

140. 
52.. 



200- 
60i-. 



60^.. 
65... 
30... 



3... 
101^ 
46.. 



59. 



90.. 
100. 
99.. 
53.. 



56. 



30.. 
120. 
167. 
113. 

105. 

160. 
120. 
206. 
130. 



80.. 
120. 
190. 
16.. 



16. 



370- 



Depth 
of well 
(feet). 



61 

(?) 
210-i- 
200-1- 
60 
150 
150 
255 

190 



210 

227 

76 

80 
85 
35 

35 
(?) 

80 
84 

56 
155 

75 

103 

49 



75 

95 
110 



54-1- 

70 
560S 

300? 
287 
175 
120 

113 

187 
160 
214 
150 



140 
190 
590 



250 



380 



a A^- Artesian water at depth indicated. 

b Quantities in miner's inches of 9 gallons per minute each, shown thus: R= original flow; 8= 
flow; E=estimated flow; no letter=actual measured flow. 



400 



^stated 



WELL DATA. 
Wells of Antelope Valley region. 



71 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 


Quantity 
of water 1 
available. ^ 


Use of v/ater. 


Total 
solids 
(parts 
per 
mil- 
lion). 


Remarks. 


Wind 






H Inches S 


Domestic 


228 


Log. 








Abandoned. 








1 


Not used 




Abandoned; log. 








do 1 




Do. 










do 




Do. 


Wind 






i inch E 


Domestic; stock. 
Not used 


268 










Abandoned. 


3i h. D. eas 






Ample 


Stock 


252 












Not used 


Do. 










Stock 


286 


In bedrock. 


Wind 








Domestic 




do . . 








do 


226 
245 

262 




8-foot windmill. . 

do 

6 h. p. gas 

Wind 


$150.00 

150.00 
300. 00 


$100.00 

100. 00 
450.00 


10 inches S 

.do 


Domestic; irri- 
gation. 
do 


Log. 
Do. 


20inchesE 

1.3 inches S 

do 


Stamp mill 


Do. 


Domestic; cya- 
nide plant. 
do 


274 

306 
367 ± 




Steam pump 








Wind 






2 inches S 

2.8-1- hiches S 


Domestic ; irri- 
gation. 
Stamp mill 


Several similar wells 


11 h. p. gas 

10-foot windmill. 

Hand 


75.00 
117.60 

34.40 
c 2, 000. 00 


1,125.00 


on this place. 


Domestic; irri- 
gation. 

Domestic 

Irrigation ; 
stamp mill. 

Stock 


472 








Log. 






100± inches S 
















do 








75.00 
(i 113. 00 


25.00 
425. 00 


9,000 gallons 
pumped in 3 
days by hand. 


Domestic; irri- 
gation. 

Domestic 


270 




Centrifugal; 4 

10-foot windmill. 
8-Hfoot windmill. 






do 










§ inch S 


do 




















Wind 






Small 


Schoolhouse 






8-foot windmill.. 


50.00 
500. 00 


150. 00 


1.2 inches S 


Domestic 




Do. 






Abandoned. 








Not used 






10-foot windmill. 




1.66 inches S .... 


Domestic 

Not us3d 


261 






1 


Caved in; log. 
Do. 








do 





Wind 








Domestic 




Caved in. 
















Wind 










251 














Abandoned. 














Abandoned; caved 














in. 
Abandoned. 














Do. 










Not used 




Dry at present. 


Artesian and 

centrifugal; 18 

h. p. gas. 
Artesian (com- 

bined with 

41a). 
Artesian 


2, 500. 00 




150-170 inches . . . 


Irrigation 


(282 
1282 

261 
303 






do 












do 












do 






7 inches 


Irrigation ... 






do 






2 inches R . 


.do 


290 




do 








.do 




do 






6 inches 


do 


245 
272 


Temperature 81° F. 


do 






4-1- inches 


do 



c Including plant. 



d -fPipe. 



72 WATER RESOURCES OF AKTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



No. of 
well. 



Owner. 



46 



47a 
47b 
47e 
47c 
47d 
47f 



49 
f50 
51 



l52 

53a 
53b 

f54 

B55 

[56 

A 57 

!>{§ 
60a 
60b 
61 

62 

62a 

63 
64 
65 
66 

67 

68 

69 

70 

71 

72 

73 

74 

75 

76 

77 

78 

79 

80 

81a 

81b 

82 
83 



C. N. Post. 



W. LaForce. 

..do 

..do 



.do. 



C. N. Post. 



Hoyt. 



C. N. Post. 
do. 



.do. 

.do. 
.do. 



.do. 

.do- 
.do. 
.do. 



do 

do 

L. S. Porter 

do 

Mrs. A. E. Lynn. 



Ella Kinton. 
....do 



Patterson... 



W, B. Morgan. 

do 

do 



P. B. Lampman... 

Lindermann 

E. M. Hamilton 

Hotel. 
Wm. Oliver 



do 

John Demuth . 



Wm. Oliver 

C. W.Roberts 

C. N. Reid 

do 

Dan Emmett 

C.W.Davidson.... 

C.N. Reid 

H.D.Davis 

Benedict Ray 

do 



do 

Meadow Springs 
Land & Cattle Co. 



Location. 



Year 
com- 
pleted. 



Sec.lO,T.9N.,R.13W, 



See.l5,T.7N.,R.13W. 

do 

do 



.do. 



Sec.lO,T.7N.,R.13W. 



Sec.l4,T.7N.,R.13AY, 
Sec.lO,T,7N.,R.13W. 
do 



.do. 

.do. 
.do. 



-do. 

-do- 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 



Sec.l2,T.7N.,R.13W. 
do 

Sec.26,T.9N.,R.13W. 

Sec.20,T. 9N.,R.12W. 
do 



Sec.28,T.9N.,R.12W. 
Sec.22,T.9N.,R.12W. 

do 

do , 



Sec.2,T.8N.,R.12W. 
Sec.lO,T.8N.,R.12W. 
Sec.21,T.9N., R.12W. 
Sec.32,T.8N.,R.10W. 

do 

do 



Location unknown 

Sec.3,T.7N.,R.ll W. 

Sec.lO,T.7N.,R.llW. 

do 

Sec.l2,T.7N.,R.llW. 

Sec.lO,T.7N.,R.llW. 

Sec.34,T.8N.,R.llW. 

do 

Sec.22,T.8N.,R.llW, 

do 



Sec.20.T.8N.,R.llW. 

Sec.8,T.7N.,R.ll W. 



1902 



1894 
1896 
1896 



1899 



1902 

1899 

1908 
1908 



1905 

1898 

1905 

1903 

1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 

1904 

1904 

1905 

1907 

1907 



1905 



1906 



Class of well. 



3| inches inside 
diameter 
bored. 

Bored 

do 

do 



.do. 



5 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

Bored 



4 inches outside 
diameter(?), 
bored, 

4 inches inside 
diameter,bored. 

10-inch, bored... 
8-inch, bored 

4 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 
4-inch, bored 



4 inches inside di- 
ameter, bored. 

do 

do 

4-inch, bored 

do 

8 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 

6f inches outside 
diameter, bored. 

9 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 

6-inch, bored 

do 

4J-iiich, bored... 
4-inch, bored 

4 J inches outside 

diameter,bored. 

do 

6-inch, bored 

do 

12| inches inside 
diameter,bored. 

12 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 

12-inch, bored... 

6 inches inside di- 
ameter bored. 

6-inch, bored 



6 inches outside 

diameter,bored, 

6-inch, bored 

do 



5f inches inside 
diameter,bored. 



3 inches outside 
diameter,bored. 

4 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 



5 inches outside 
diameter.bored. 



Depth to water 
(feet). 



310. 



263 A. 
290A. 



230. 



310-3G0. 



1534--.. 
330, 418. 

240 



248-270. . . 
240-300. . . 
235-240 -f-. 



230 

230 

10,235,250. 
250 

18-340A... 



11. 



200A. 
115... 
240. . . 

7 



100... 
110... 
15.... 

7 

11-12. 
11.... 



45 

12, 20A, 280A. 
390-430A, 530A, 



420 

22 surface water. 

399 

280 

280 

227 

225 



25. 



Depth 
of well 
(feet). 



360 



250 

387? 

376 



385 



280 
360 



280 

275 
425 

374 

400 
360 
2804- 

275 
300 
340 
540 
404 

183± 

50 

240 
140 
500 ± 
329 

274 

164 

100 

612 

91 

103 

78 
555 

556 

515 

600 

532 

303 

420 

235 

235 



58 



weltj data. 
Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



73 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 


Quantity 
of water 
available. 


Use of water. 


Total 
solids 
(parts 
per 
mil- 
lion). 


Remarks. 


Artesian 






14 inches R 

3 inches E 


Irrigation 


290 
284 




do 


J117.40 




Log of 47a, 1), and e. 
Exact data not 


..do 








..do 






9 inches R 






available. Wells 


do 












stated to have 
flowed total of 50 


.do 


318.00 




9+ inches R; 1.7 
inches now. 




274 

270 ± 

271 

283 


inches originally. 
Log. 


. ..do 




Not used 


Opens in reservoir. 


Artesian; wind.. 










Artesian 








Irrigation 


Analysis. 


do 


108.00 

1 1,600.00 
168.30 




8 inches R 


Log; opens in reser- 
voir. 

Log. 


fCentrifugal o n 
\ artesian. 

do 




(40 inches R ; 
•1 pimips, 102.5 
1 inches. 
linchE 

1 inch 


[irrigation 






Stock 


281 
294 


Do. 


Artesian 




Irrigation 




do 










do 






8 inches R 






In reservoir. 


do 


160.00 
180.00 




6 inches R 






Do. 


do 




2 inches R . 






Do. 


do 




17 inches A . 




299 

278 
283 




do 






10 inches A . . 






Artesian; centrif- 
ugal; 8h. p. gas. 

Centrifugal; 10 
h. p. gas. 


393. 25 

113.00 

75.00 

300.00 
140.00 
400.00 




30 inches S 




Log. 




25 inches 

12 inches S 


Not used 


Do. 


S500.00 


do 




Includes 3 wells 


Artesian 


4 inches 


Irrigation 




close together. 
Log. 


do 

do 

Slightly artesian. 




7-8 inches S 

1 inch 


do 

do 

Not used 


237 
303 


Do. 








Log. Apparently 

reached bedrock. 

3 feet to surface 


Artesian 


219. 20 
123.00 
100.00 




30-40 inches S; 

27-30 inches. 
10-12 inches S ; 

7 inches. 
IJ inches 


Irrigation 

Stock 


249 
214 
351 
214 


do 




water. 


Wind 




Domestic 

do 




Hand; nonflow- 
ing artesian. 

Centrifugal; 15 
h. p. st«am. 

Centrifugal; 12 
n. p. steam. 

(?) 




Does not quite flow. 


170.00 
175.00 


725.00 


15 inches 


do 


Water soft. Does 


20 inches E 

Plenty 


Not used 




not quite flow. 
Does not quite flow. 








Not on map. 
Water used on 11 


Artesian 






11-12+ inches; 

16 inches R. 
60-70 inches 

pumped. 
8 inches R 

12.5 inches R ... 


Irrigation 


233 
163 
167 
198 
174 
158 
167 


Artesian and 

pumped. 
Artesian 






acres alfalfa. 
Upper water weak. 






Irrigation 

do 




do 






Contains a little sul- 


Artesian (pump- 
ing plant). 
do 






4 inches R; 7 

inches. 
8-10 inches S . . 


do... 


phur. 
Log; pump dis- 
charge unknown. 






do 


Artesian 


336.00 




6 inches E 

1§ inches R; 5 

inches later. 
6 inches 


Not used 

Irrigation 




do... 




Log. 


do 






do 




(?) 












Abandoned. 


Wind 








Domestic 


178 















74 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



No. of 
well. 



Owner. 



Location. 



Year 
com- 
pleted. 



Class of well. 



Depth to water 
(feet). 



Depth 
of well 
(feet). 



84 

86 

87 
88 

89 
90 
91 

92 

93 

94 

95 
96 

97 

98 

99 

100 

101 

102 

103 

104 

105 

106 

107 
108 

109 

110 
111 



112a 
112b 
112c 
113 

114 



115 

116 
117 

118 

.119 

120 

121 

122 



Dr. S.Worcester.. 

A. J. Renner 

....do 



Stett. 



Ingersoll. 



C. N. Reid 
Rafiaelli.... 



Mrs. 



Crane. . 



C.W. Hoehle 

Charles Corneliuson 



John Carter. 
do 



.do. 



...do 

do 

....do 

A. J. Renner. 
....do 



.do. 
.do. 



Renner, sr . . 

Andrew Watson. . . 



Carter. 
Hart.. 



Carter Garfield. 

John Carter 

Johnson. 



M.H.Cheney. 

do 

do , 

do , 



.do. 



Reese Snowden 

do 

C.N. Post 



do 

do 

Palmdale Hotel. 
S. T. Cull 



Sec.l2,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Sec.l4,T.8N.,R.13W. 
do 



Sec. 2, T. 8 N., R. 13 W 
do 



Sec.lO,T.7N., R.llW. 
Sec.32,T.8N.,R.llW. 

Sec.25,T.8N.,R.llW. 

Sec.l8,T.8N.,R.10W. 

Sec.l4,T.8N.,R.llW. 

Sec.ll,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Sec.l0,T.7N.,R.12W. 



1908 

1907 

1907 
1908 

1908 



6 inches outside 

diameter, bored, 

do 



...do., 
...do.. 



427-432. 
30 



30. 

7.. 



1907 
1907 
1907 
1907 



do..-. 

4-inch, bored 

6 inches outside 
diameter,bored. 

7 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 

6 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 

8 inches outside 
diameter, bored 



Best 210. 



-do. 
.do. 



3 inches inside di- 
ameter, bored. 

3| inches inside 
diameter,bored. 



Sec.ll,T.7N.,R.12W. 

do 

Sec.l4,T.7N.,R.12W. 
do 



.do. 
.do. 



Sec.l3,T.7N.,R.12W. 
do 



Sec. 34, T. 9 N., R. 13 

W. 
Sec. 30, T. 8 N., R. 12 

W. 

Sec. 11, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 
Sec. 12, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 

Sec.2,T.7N.,R.12W. 

do 

do 

do 



1903 
1908 
1892 
1906 

1892 

1892 

1906 

1905 

1904 
1905 



4|-inch, bored... 

5|;-inch, bored... 

4-inch, bored 

6 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 

4 inches outside 
diameter, bored. 

4 inches inside di- 
ameter, bored. 

5| inches inside 
diameter, bored. 

4| inches inside 
diameter,bored. 

5f inches, bored . 

do 

4i inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 



265 

380-440. 
245 



Surface water 22. 

240A 

260A 



24 surface water; 
280A. 

240 A 

12-300 A 



1907 



4 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 



320-350. 



1908 



.do. 



Sec. 11, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W. 



.do. 



Sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W. 



.do. 
.do. 



Mrs. 



Hazel- 



tine. 



Sec. 26, T. 6 N., R. 12 
W. 

3^ miles NE. of West 
Palmdale. 

Sec. 26, T. 7 N., R. 11 
W. 



1896 

1897 
1897 

1902 

1894 

1896 

1896 



5 inches, bored . . 

4J inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

3 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

4 inches, stove- 
pipe casing. 

4 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 
3| inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4 inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 

6 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

6 Inches, bored.. 



160-180 

290 

160-180 

19 surface water; 
430 A. 



240 A 
240 A 



247 A. 
262... 
120... 
56.... 



435 

200 

200 
330 

300 
500 
400 

584 

608 

280 



334 
500 
255 

548 

340 

300 

540 

580 

365 
540 



352 

325 
340 
320 
500 

430 

535 

465 
290 

325 

256 

290 

155 

64 



WELL DATA. 
Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



75 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 


Quantity 

of water 

available. 


Use of water. 


Total 
solids 
(parts 
per 
mil- 
lion). 


Remarks. 


Artesian; pump- 
ing plant. 

Non flowing ar- 
tesian, 
do 


$478. 50 

220.00 

220.00 
3G3.00 

330.00 




11 inches R; 40 
inches pump. 


Irrigation 




Water soft; log. 




Not used 




Water struck at 185 






do 




feet; log. 
Log. 


do 






do 




Surface water at 32 


do 






do 




feet; log. 
Log. 


Artesian. . 






Domestic 

Not used 


246 




do 


440.00 
759. 20 
GOO. 00 
420.00 




§ inch 


Do. 


do 




do 


do 




Water soft; log. 


.. ..do 




20 inches S 




287 


Log. 


do 




3 inches S 


Not used 


Do. 


do. . 










do 






li inches 




182 

187 

174 
185 
154 




do 






li inches E 












—1 inch 






Artesian 


112.00 




3 inches 






do 




5.5 inches 




Do. 


do 






12 inches R 

15 inches R; 13 
inches. 


Irrigation 




do 

do 


300.00 




do 


185 


Do. 






Do. 


do 






4 inches R; 3 J 
inches. 


Irrigation 




Do. 


do 












do 






8inches S 

13 inches S 


Irrigation 

do 


184 




do 








do 


450.00 










Water soft. Not 


do 




15 inches E 




330± 

150 
156 

156 
169 
153 


used as yet. 


do 












Artesian; 4 h. p. 
gas, No. 2 cen- 
trifugal. 

Artesian 


246.50 




2 inches 








[Combined flow 
\ of 20 inches 

I s. 

10 inches 

5 inches 


I 




do 






In reservoir. 


do 






1 

Irrigation 

do 




do 


500.00 




Irrigates 14 acres. 


do 




do 


267.50 




3 inches 




Log. 


do 




12 inches 

10 inches R 


Irrigation .... 




Pump being in- 
stalled. 
Log. 


do 


203.00 




.do 




do 




4 inches S 


do 




do 

10-foot windmill; 
2i-inch pump. 

Pumping plant. . 


192.00 
525.00 




12 inches 


do 








1.1 inches S 


Domestic 

Stock and irri- 
gation. 

Not used 


259 


Log. 

Partial log; not on 
map. 






48.00 



















76 



WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 



Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



No. of 
well. 



Owner. 



Location. 



Year 
com- 
pleted. 



Class of well. 



Depth to water 
(feet). 



Depth 
of well 
(feet). 



123 
124 
125 

126 

127 

128 
129 

130 

131 

132a 
132b 

133 



133a 
134 



135 

136 

137 

138 
139 



140 
141 



142 

143 

144 

145 
146 

147 
148 
149 

150 

151 
152 



J. C. Van Norden.. 
Sam Fletcher 



Adney Estate 

do 

do 

Mrs. Eddy 

— Wolfenber- 

ger. 
Oliver Miller 



.do. 



.do. 



....do 

Tilden Estate. 



-do. 



Meadow Springs 
Land & Cattle 
Co. 

....do 



.do. 
.do 



.do. 
.do. 



-do. 

-do. 
.do. 



....do 

Ben. W.Hahn 

Mrs. Story. . 

Beadle 



J. W. Wilkins. 



George Miller. 



Butterworth 

Acme Cement & 
Plaster Co. 



Sec. 26, T. 7 N., R. 11 

W. 
Sec. 20, T. 7 N., R. 11 

W. 
Sec.2,T.7N.,R.llW 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Sec. 12, T. 7 N., R. 11 
W. 

See. 18, T. 7 N., R. 11 

W. 
Sec.6,T.7N.,R.ll W 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 



Sec.4,T.7N.,R.llW. 
Sec.8,T.7N.,R.ll W. 
....do 



Sec.6,T.7N.,R.10W. 



Sec. 18, T. 7 N., R 10 
W. 

Sec. 31, T. 9 N., R. 12 
W. 

Sec.8,T.8N.,R.12W. 



1904 
1897 
1898 
1899 



1905 
1903 



1905 

1905 
(?) 

1896 
1903 



do 


1902? 


do 


1902? 


do 


1902? 


do 


1903 


do 


1903 


do 




do 




do 


1899 



1897 



6 Inches, bored.. 
4 inches, bored., 

^ inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 

3 inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

4 inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Bored 



60. 



Surface water, 

47; 450 A. 
261 A 



Surface water, 
15;225A-294A. 

235 



375. 



6 inches, bored . 
5 inches, bored . 

4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

do 

? 4 inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4i inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 
10 inches, bored . 

4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 

do 

4J inches inside 

diameter , 

bored. 
4 inches inside 

diameter , 

bored. 
do 



Surface water 17; 
345 A. 

Surface water 23; 

253 A. 
312 



306,461. 
240± A. 



240,300,375,400. 
11 surface water; 
260 A. 



235. 



22 surface water, 
235,285,290,320. 



435,445. 
400 



5 1 inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

4 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

5 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

3 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

7 inches, bored.. 



4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 



230. 



235,245,280,335. 



16 surface water; 
369 A. 

25 



.do. 



45 surface water; 
196 A. 

7 surface water; 
271 A. 



69 
700 
5C4 

431 

340 

400 

380 

335 

500+ 

480 

441 



530 
400 



320 
300± 



51 
460 



460 
518 



370 

260 
460 

330 

350 

430 

37 

259 



Sec. 26, T. 6 N., R. 12 
W. 



Bored. 



379. 



400 



WELL DATA. 



77 



Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 


Quantity 
of wat er 
available. 


Use of water. 


Total 
solids 
(parts 
per 
mil- 
lion). 


Remarks. 














Water rose 2 feet 


Wind; nonflow- 

ing artesian. 
Artesian 








Stock 




when struck. 
Water within 5 feet 


J294.00 




1\ Inches 






of surface. 
Log. 


do 




7 inches R 

Z\ inches R 


Irrigation 

do 


216 

223 

234 

213 

146 
198 
318 
199 

199 
211 

159 

163 


Do. 


do 


1,035.00 




Cost of well excep- 
tionally high. 

Log. 


do 




IJ inches R 




do 


285.00 

208.25 
275.00 




5 inches R 

3 inches R; 3^ 

inches. 
2 J inches R; IJ 

inches. 


Irrigation 


Log; now aban- 
doned. 

Log; contains slight 

sulphur. 
Log. 


do 




do 




Domestic and 
irrigation. 


do 




Log; includes 2 


Artesian; cen- 
trifugal,8h.p. 
gas. 








Irrigation 

do 


wells. 








Log. 


Artesian 






17 inches R; 4 
or 5 inches. 

17 inches R; 7 
inches. 

7 inches R; li 
inches. 


Not used 


Abandoned for cat- 


do 






tle. 
Log; abandoned. 


do 










Pumping plant 






• 


Data not available. 


Centrifugal; 6 h. 

p. gas. 
Artesian 






22 inches E 






Nonartesian. 








Irrigation 


166 

153 
169 

153 

162 
166 




do 






2 inches E 




do 


275.00 
225.00 




5^- inches R 

4 J inches R; 
1+ inch. 

2 inches R; -i 

inch. 
10 inches 

4 J inches R . 


Irrigation 


No flow in summer- 


do 






do 








do 






Not used 


Formerly for irriga- 
gation. 


do 


120.00 
193.00 
236.50 




do 




4 inches E 




161 
246 


Considerable odor- 


do 




3 inches R 


Irrigation 


less, colorless gas; 
analysis. 
Odor of sulphur; 
log. 

Water rose 1 foot 


6-Inch pump 
and mill. 

Doubtfully arte- 
sian. 

Artesian 














when struck. 
Plenty of water. 
Log. 

Do. 






3 inches R 






do 


















o $3,000.00 


9 inches . 


Manufacture of 
plaster. 


223 


Log. 









a Estimated. 



78 WATER EESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region— Continued. 



No. of 
well. 



Owner. 



liOcation. 



Year 
com- 
pleted. 



Class of well. 



Depth to water 
(feet). 



Depth 
of well 
(feet). 



153 



154 

155 
157 
158 

159 
160 

161 

162 
163 

164 
165 



166 

167 

168 

169 
170 
171 



172 
173 



174 

175 
176 
177 

178 

fi79 
E 

U80 
181 
182 

183 



184 
185 

186 

187 



188 



W. M. Smith. 



Palmdale . 



Southern Pacific 

R. R. 
Alpine Plaster Co. . 
Dr. A. J. Garner... 
do 



.do. 



.do. 



Sec.2,T.5N.,R.12W. 
....do 



Frank Ritter 

Southern Pacific 

R. R. 
Jasper Lindsay 



.do. 



.do 
.do. 

.do. 

.do. 



Koch. 



Butterworth 
Simpson 



Arthur Speaker.. 
E. C. Redman... 



Pliny Finch . 



Sec. 31, T. 6 N., R. 11 

W. 
Sec.7,T.7N.,R.9W. 
Sec. 34, T. 9 N., R. 10 

W. 

Sec. 18, T. 8 N., R. 10 
W. 

Sec. 20, T. 8 N., R. 10 
W. 

Sec.8,T.8N.,R. low, 



F. A. Bacon... 
E. C. Redman. 
E. G. Bartlett. 



C. N. Post 

H. J. Butterworth. 

C.N. Post 

E. C. Coleman 

do , 



Sec. 13, T. 8 N., R. 10 

W. 
Sec. 20, T. 8 N., R. 10 

W. 
Sec. 10, T. 7N.,R. 11 

W. 

Sec.4,T.7N.,R.llW. 
Sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W. 

Sec. 34, T. 8N.,R. 12 
W. 

Sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W 

Sec. 20, T. 7 N., R. 12 
W. 

do , 



.do. 
.do. 

.do. 



.do. 
.do. 

.do. 



Lancaster Ceme- 
tery. 
M. H.Cheney 



Burns . 



Sec. 15, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 
Sec.2,T.7N.,R.12W. 



Sec.2,T.7N.,R.13W. 



Lancaster Bakery. 
Porter 



B. F.Carter 

"Desert Claims". 



R.J. Hotchkiss... 



Lancaster 

Sec. 12, T. 8 N., R. 12 

W. 
Sec.8,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Sec.2,T.7N.,R.12W. 



Sec. 24, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W. 



1908 



5 inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

Bored 



245. 



1905 



1906 
1906 



12 inches, bored. 

Dug 

do 



275,355,385. 

35 

38 



1908 
1905 



1908 
1908 



1908 



1906 



1903 



1898 
1898 
1903 
1904 



1898 
1903 
1900 



1904 

1904 
1890 



1899 



do 

Dug 10 by 10 feet. 



1908 I 10 inches, bored 



....do 

8 inches, bored 



6+. 
190. 



Bored 

6 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
6 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
6 inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
6 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 
....do 



10,31,142A,238A 
230 



215. 
220. 



Bored. 



9 surface water; 

250 A. 
350 



6 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 



200,500. 



4 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 
4 inches iaside 

diameter? 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 
do , 



5 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

do 



14, 42, surface wa 
ter;252,313A. 

11 surface water; 

132, 170. 227, 

273, 332 A. 
300 A 



4 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

do 



327. 



Bored. 



11 surface water; 

148 A. 
280 A 



4 inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 

do 

do 



15 surface water; 
134, 189, 303 A. 



128,140. 
137 



Bored 

4 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

5 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 



165 A, 22 A. 



WELL DATA. 
Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



79 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 


Quantity 

of water 

available. 


Use of water. 


Total 
solids 
(parts 
per 
mU- 
lion). 


Remarks. 


4 h. p. gas 

Steam pump? . . . 


1550.00 






Domestic and 
stock. 

Domestic and 
depot. 


238 

249 
259 


Log. 








10 h. p. steam . . . 






1 inch 


Log. 


Hand 








Not used 




do 








Domestic 

Irrigation 

Supply for en- 
gines. 
Irrigation 


459 

470 
614 


Raises 2 feet In 


6-foot windmill.. 








winter. 


4 h. p. steam 






7 + inches E 

40 inches S 




Centrifugal; 13 
h. p. gas. 




$800.00 


On San Andreas 








fault. 
Partial log. 


Wind 


500.00 




5 inches 


Domestic and 

stock. 
Stock 


211 

500-1- 
257 


Said to reach granite. 






Includes 2 wells. 


A rtA<«ifin 






50 inches R, 70 
inches S, 40 
inches E. 

2 inches E 


Not used 


Log. 


do 


2-1f). 75 

246. 75 

1,000.00 

325. 00 




Log; pump in- 
stalled. 

Partial log. 


do 






Irrigation and 
domestic. 

Irrigatiou 

Domestic 

Irrigation 

. .do 


257- 

217 
215 

101 


do 




4 4- inches 

2 inches 




do 




Log. 


do 




40 inches S, 20 

inches actual . 

12 inches flow 




Artesian, cen- 
trifugal, 5 J h. 
p. gas. 


550.00 




Pumps 35 inches. 






do 




Artesian 








do 


Log. 


.....do 






8 inches 




197 


Do. 


do 










Do. 


do 






5 inches 




181 

211 

186 
206? 

206 


Do. 


Artesian, No. 5 
centrifugal, 10 
h. p. steam. 

Artesian 






40+ inches 
pumped. 

12 inches R, 9 

inches. 
1 inch 


Irrigation 

do 








Log. 


do 








do 










Log. 
Do, 


.....do 










do 






5 inches 




163 


Do. 


do 






10 inches R 






do 




- 










do 












Log. 


do 








Not used 


210 


do 










do 






35 inches 


Not used 




Log. 













80 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



No. of 
well. 



189a\ 

189b/ 

190 

191 

192 



193 
194 

195 
19G 



197 

198 
199 



200 
201 
202 



203 
204 
205 



207 

208 
209 



210 
211 
212 

213 

214 
215 

216 

217 

218 

219 
220 
221 
222 



Owner. 



C. I. Dunsmoore.. 
Doyle. 



Location. 



Edwards & Galla- 

her. 
do 



Nick Evertswell. 
O. F. Goodrich.. 



Mrs. 



Hannah 



.do. 



H. F. Keeler. 



...do 

Lancaster. 



Charles Forsyth . . . 

G. L. West 

Lancaster School.. 

Frve 



Henry Gummert. 
Myers 



A. C. Noble. 



.do. 
.do. 



Protchard . . 

....do 

J. K. Vance 



Jerome Rapelstein. 

M. J. Reynolds 

Joseph Reh 



F. H. Robinson. 



do 

T. V. Rockabrand. 



M. J. Reynolds 

F. H. •Robinson.. 

do 

do 



Sec. 16, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 

Lancaster , 

Sec. 21, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 
....do 



Lancaster . 
....do 



Sec. 14, T. 7 N., R. 12 
do 



Lancaster, 



.do. 
.do. 



Year 
com- 
pleted. 



1904 

1903? 
1897 

1897 



1898 
1908 



Sec. 22, T. 9 N., R. 14 

W. 
Sec. 22, T. 9 N., R. 14 

W. 
Lancaster 



Sec.2,T.9N.,R.14W 
do 

Sec. 24, T. 7 N., R. 12 
W. 

Sec. 22, T. 7 N., R. 12 
W. 

do 

do 



Sec.34,T.7N.,R.llW 
do 



Sec. 21, T. 7 N., R. 12 
W. 



.do. 



Sec.l6,T. 7N.,R. 12 

W. 
Sec. 21, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 

J^ancaster 



Sec.4,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Lancaster 



Sec. 21, T. 7 N., R. 12 
W. 



Lancaster . 

do.... 

do.... 



1902 



1902 

1902 
1898 



1909 
1909 
1904 



1909 
1909 



Class of well. 



Bored. 



....do 

....do 

4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Bored 



4 inches inside 
dia me ter , 
bored. 

Bored 



4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Bored 



do 

4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Bored 



1895 



1898 
1898 



1906 

1907 

1905 
1907 

1902 
1900? 



1905 
1904 
1902 



do 

4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 



6-inch auger 

(?) 
6 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
Bored 



8 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Bored 



Depth to water 
(feet). 



Depth 
of well 

(feet). 



7 surface water; 

120, 135 A. 
18 surface water. 
14 surface water; 

93?, 184 A. 
Ill A 



15 surface water; 

155 A. 
7 surface water.. 



228,261 A 



151,268,322 A. 



4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

125 



120, 160 A. 



138-155 first A; 
240-267 second 
A; 298-304 
third A; 367- 
393 fourth A. 

Dry 

do 

47 surface water; 
138, 155 A. 



516. 



4| inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
6 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
5-inch bored 

6 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

3 inches spiral 
casing. 



Bored. 



6 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
3 inches inside 

diameter , 

bored. 
3 inches inside 

diameter. 



35 surface water; 

82. 

16 surface water; 

279 A. 
8 surface water; 

235 A. 
10 surface water; 

93, 124 A. 

70, 89, 164, 174, 
206, 270, 324 A. 

6 surface water; 
81 A. 



150, 235 A. 



14 surface water; 
265 A. 



135?, 283 A. 
125, 162 A., 

230A 

235, 290 A., 



WELJj DATA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



81 



! 

Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 

1 


Quantity 

of water 

available. 


Use of water. 


Total 
solids 
^parts 
per 
raU- 
llon). 


Remarks. 












Loc;; in reservoir. 


do ' 












Log. 


do 




1 








Do. 


do 


i 


! 






Do. 


I 
do ' 


1 
. . ' 








Do. 


"" 1 

A rtpsian "* 












\rtesian 










Locked; log. 


do 










Plugged; log. 


Artesian ; gas and 

centrifugal. 


Pumps 20 - 25 
inches. 


Irrigation 5 acres 


1S5± 


Log. 


do 


12:V inches 




190 

(a) 
(o) 

208 


Log. 








(?) 


Domestic 


16 feet gravel at bot- 


Nonflowing arte- 
sian. 
Artesian 






Ample? 


tom. 
No water below 160 






1+ inch 




feet. 
Log. 


Dry- 








Abandoned 


Do. 


Incomplete . 








Incomplete 




Do. 


Artesian 












Location indefinite; 


Gas engine. 








Not used 




log. 
Log. 


(?) 












Not on map. 


(?) 












Log; not on map. 


Nonflowing arte- 
sian, 
^....do 












Log. 












Do. 


Artesian 

do 


8258. 40 




12-t- inches 


Not used 


205 


Do. 






Artesian 









Irrigation 






Artesian; 10 h. p. 
gas. 

Artesian 


391. 60 


8600.00 




do 


188 








Location uncertain; 


do 


115.65 




16 inches R 




208 
191 


log. 
Log. 


do 




4 inches E 




Log; flow lowers at 


do 










uncapping of ad- 
jacent wells. 
Log; not on map. 


do 










208 
210± 


Not on map. 
Do. 


do 


84.00 




6 inches R 




do 




5 inches R 




Do. 




1 













o Probably good. 



95093°— wsp 278—11- 



82 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



No. of 
well. 



224 



225 



226a 
226b 

227a 



227b 

228 



229 



230 

231 
232 



233 



240 

mi 

[241a 

242 
244 



245a 
24.5b 

246a 



246b 
247 

248 
249 

250 

251 
252 

253 



Owner. 



Jane Reynolds. 
Carl Schwab. . . 



\Southern Pacific 
/ R. R. No. 1. 

...do 



..do.. 
..do.. 



Joe Taylor. 



L. Tunneson. 



M. J. Reynolds 

Tunneson.. . 



B. Chatt. 



Judge Melrose. 
Coleman, E. C. 



do 

do 

Nathan Cole, jr 

John H. Carter 

E. C. Coleman 

do 

J. H. Carter 



A. W. Berrv. 
do '.. 



A. E. Ladner. 



.do. 



Sibley. 



Bowman & 

McCartney. 
Mrs. Hartnett 



Dr. LaForce. 



J. C. Hannah.. 
J. W. LaForce. 

Vysette. 



Location. 



Sec. 12, T. 7 N., R. 12 
W. 

Sec. 30, T. 8N.,R. 12 
W. 

Lancaster ; 

Cameron Station 



.do. 



Oban; sec. 22, T. 8N., 
R. 12 W. 

Sec. 21, T. 7N.,R. 12 
W. 

Lancaster 



.do. 



Sec. 3, T. 7 N., R. 11 
W. 

Sec. 21, T. 7 N., R. 12 
W. 

Sec. 20, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 
do 



.do. 
.do. 



Sec. 3, T. 5 N., R. 12 

W. 
Sec. 11, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 

Sec. 20, T. 7 N., R. 12 
W. 

do 



Sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 
Sec. 20, T. 7N.,R. 12 

W. 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 



.do. 



Sec. 23, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W. 



.do. 



Sec. 14, 
W. 

Sec. 15, 
W. 

Sec. (?) 

W. 
Sec. 15, 

W. 



T. 7 N., R. 13 

T. 7 N., R. 13 

T. 7 N., R. 13 
T. 7N., R.13 



Sec. 22, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W. 



Year 
com- 
pleted. 



1899 



1899 
1900 



1900 
1904 



1906? 
1006 



1895 

1908 

1892 
1899 



(?) 

1901- 
1903 



1892 



1901- 

1903 

1905 



1896 
1896 

1896 



1896 
1893 



1885 
1893 



Class of well. 



4 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 
6 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 

4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

3 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

6-inch screw 

5 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

4J inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 



4 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

5 inches outside 
d iameter , 
bored. 



4-inch, bored 

Bored 

Bored for oil 



3J inches inside 

d*i a m e t e r , 

bored. 
2| inches Inside 

diameter , 

bored. 
Bored for oil 

4 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

do 

(?) 



3i-inch, bored . 



4-inch, bored. 



7 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 



21 inches inside 

di ameter, 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diame ter, 

bored. 
do 



7 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

2|-inch, bored... 



Depth to water 
(feet). 



17 surface water; 
250, 289 A. 

7 surface water; 
(?)A. 

13 surface water; 
261, 273, 398 A. 

110 



3 surface water; 
221, 320 A. 

95, 142, 191 A.... 



130,207,241,343, 
370, 380 A. 



15, 27 surface 
water; 234, 391 
A. 



50 A.. 
125 A. 



300A 

100A7 

20 surface water; 

280 A. 
1,600 hot water 

A, ?, 1,800; 

warm water A. 



125 A. 



500, 830, A warm 

water; 900 A. 

500+ A 



14 surface water; 
155, 241, 320 A. 



220 A?. 
300 A.. 



230- - . 
210 A. 

215 A. 



Depth 
of well 
(feet). 



430 
262 
402 
148 



124 
371 



324 



380-1- 

240? 
558 



317 

64 
125 

300 

100+ 
282? 



2,000 



125+ 

1,100 
610 



335 

288 

335 



250 

335 

260 
220 

227 



WELL DATA. 
Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



83 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 


Quantity 

of water 

available. 


Use of water. 


Total 
solids 
(parts 
per 
mil- 
lion). 


Remarks. 


Artesian . 






4i inches 




160 
355 


Log. 


do 






24i inches 






Artesian, pump- 
ing plant. 










2 wells; log. 


























Not in Antelope 
Valley; logs. 


Artesian 


i 


50 inches E 

7 inches 


Engine water . . . 




Log; flows into high 
tank. 


do 




Domestic 


180 


do 








do 












Log. 


do 






8 inches R 








do 


S349.00 




J+inch 


Irrigation 

Not used 


193 




do 




§ inch 




do 






do 


Domestic, dairy, 
and irrigation. 


191 




do 






2 inches 




do 






1 inch 








do 






Slight 


Saltlick 

Nothing 


(a) 




Artesian water 
(no oil). 


10,000.00± 




(?) 


Log and notes. 




2 inches 






do 






} inch 


Not used 

Nothing 


182 
210± 


No flow during 
pumping and use 
of other wells. 

Log. 


Artesian water 

(no oil). 
Artesian 


10,000.00± 




(?) 




17 inches S 
















Artesian, pump- 
ing plant. 

Artesian, 5 h. p. 
steam, centrif- 
ugal No. 3. 

On 2 wells; ar- 
tesian. 

Artesian 






—8 inches S 






Log. 
Log. 




$400. 00 


(7 inches R 




187 

187 
248 


Uf inches R 






2 inches R; 1 
inch. 


Not used 




(?) 








Artesian 




4 inches R; If 
inches. 

2 inches 




254 

255 

263 
258 

267 




do ; 








do 




Very slight 






do 






12 inches 






do 






4+ inches E 


Stock 


Analysis. 













o Impure. 



84 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



No. of 
well. 



Owner. 



Location. 



Year 
com- 
pleted. 



Class of well. 



Depth to water 
(feet). 



Depth 
of well 
(feet). 



254 

255 
256 

257 

258 
259 

260 
261 
262 

263 

264 

265 

266 

267 
268 
269 

270 
271 



272 
273 

274 
275a 
275b 
276a 



276b 

277 



278 
279 
280 



281 

282 

283 
284 
285 



Mrs. Eva Porter. . 



Weinmiller, 



H. D. Vreeland 
C.N. Post 



Freyendall 

....do 



Cyrus "Wheeler 

L. A. Overton 

Duniway . . 



Dr. Swartout. 



Falrview Mining 
Co. 

John Mosby 



Carl Blair. 



Simpson.. 



John Stuckey. 
Southern Pacific 

S. J.'Morford 



La Grande. . 



J. F. Langston. . 
Mellick . . . 



9} 



B. Scates. 

....do 

Ward Place. 



.do. 
.do. 



Sec. 12, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W. 

Sec. 4, T. 7 N., R. 12 

W. 
Sec. 12, T. 7 N., R. 13 

W. 

Sec. 10, T. 7 N., R. 13 
W. 

Sec. 32, T. 8 N., R. 12 

W. 
....do 



1906 
1892 



4J inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Bored 



275? A. 



4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
6 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
2-inch, bored 



Sec. 34, T. 8 N., R. 12 

W. 
Sec. 30, T. 9 N., R. 13 

W. 
Sec. 24, T. 9 N., R. 14 

W. 

Sec. 18, T. 8 N., R. 12 

W. 
Sec. 24, T. 9 N., R. 13 

W. 

Sec. 26, T. 9 N., R. 12 
W. 

Sec. 26, T. 8 N., R. 12 
W. 

Rosamond 

do. 

do 



1908 

1895 
1908 
1908 

1908 



4 J inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

4-inch, bored 



182 A. 



Dug. 



1908 

1908 
1886 



6 inches outside 
diameter, 
bored. 

6-inch, bored 

5^ inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
do 

6-inch, bored 



58 surface water. 
73 



21 surface water; 

62?, 371, 520 A. 

50? 



112, 155 A. 



147, 167 A. 



6-inch, bored. 



16 surface water. 

17 surface water. 
do 



Sec.l4,T.8N.,R.12W. 
Sec.22,T.8N.,R.12W. 



1908 



Sec.2,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Sec.28,T.8N.,R.12W. 
Sec.4,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Sec.lO.T.7N.,R.12W. 

do 

do..w 



5 inches inside 

diameter , 

bored. 
4i inches inside 

diameter , 

bored. 



14 surface water; 
100, 190, 270 A. 



1906 
1890 



Bored. 



105, 365 A. 



.do. 
.do. 



do 

John Carter 

P. B. Matthison.. 



3 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

2 inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

4 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Bored 



Sec.lO,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Sec.34,T.8N.,R.12W. 



C. N. Reid. . . 
Hogan, 



Sec.lO,T.7N.,R.llW. 
Sec.22,T.7N.,R.llW. 



1906 



Mrs. A. J. Renner. 
G. M. Needham.. 
Garfield Carter. .. 



Sec.l4,T.8N.,R.13W. 
Sec.28,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Sec.30,T.8N.,R.12W. 



1906 
1908 
1906 



4 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

8 inches, bored. . 

5 inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

5-| inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4i inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4^ inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 



230 A. 



653 A.. 
322, 328. 



Water stands at 
22. 

Water stands at 
19. 

260 



WELL DATA. 
Wells of Antelope Valley region — ContiDued. 



85 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 

of mi^ 

chinery. 


Quantity 
of water 
available. 


Use of water. 


Total 

solids 
(l)arLs 
per 
mil- 
lion). 


Remarks. 


ArtflRlan 






(?) 


Not used 


244 




do 










do 






Large 


Cattle 




Great wastage. 


do 






5 inches R 

3 inches R 

G inches R; 5i 
inches. 


Irrigation 

Domestic 

Irrigation 


226 

218 
218 




do 








do 


SI 40. 00 
210.00 






do 




Log; location un- 


Wind 






Domestic 

Irrigation 

do 


252 
323 


certain. 


Pumping plant.. 
Artesian 


500.00 
300.00 






Log; possibly ar- 




10 inches 


tesian. 
Soft water; log. 


Hand 








308 
460 




Artesian 


112.70 




IJ inches 

15 inches S 


Irrigation 


Analysis; contains 


do 




sulphur. 


Hand 








Domestic 


438 




WindmiU? 






Soft water. 


Wind 


1 




Domesticand en- 
gines. 
Irrigation 

Not used 

Irrigation 


616 
330 

220 

186 
206 






300.00 




33 inches 

26 inches 

45 inches E 

11 inches E 


Casing reduced to 4 
inches; analysis 
and log. 


do 




do 


370.00 




Log. 


do 




do 






2 inches E 






do 




























Artesian 










203 
200 
257 
201 




do 












do 












do 










Includes 2 wells. 


(?) 












Artesian 


198.75 




35 inches R; 35 
inches S. 

22 inches R; 22 
inches. 








do 




Never finished.. 






do 








Non flowing arte- 
sian. 

do 


378.00 
560.00 
240.00 






Not used 




Water soft. 












Artesian 




10 inches E 






Location doubtful 















86 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



No. of 
well. 



Owner. 



Location. 



Year 

comr 

pleted. 



Class of well. 



Depth to water 
(feet). 



Depth 
of well 
(feet). 



286 

287 

288 
289 
290 



291 
292 



293 



294 
295 



296 
297 

298 

299 
300 
301 



302 
303 
304 
305 
306 
307 



308 

309 

310 
311 

312 

313 

314 

315 

316 

317 

318 
319 

320a 
320b 



John Brown Col- 
ony. 

— — Sakey 

Hogan 



(?) 

Sec.l4,T.8N.,Il.llW, 



1896 



do 

W. P. Martin. 



Johnlseman.. 
Wilcox. 



Sec.22,T.7N.,Il.llW. 
do 

Sec.30,T.8N.,R.llW. 



.do. 
.do. 



4 inches outside 

diameter , 

bored. 
5^ inches outside 

diameter , 

bored . 



27 surface water? 



Bored. 



1907 



M. H. Cheney. 



.do. 



Sec.2,T.7N.,R.12W. 



.do. 



Capt. E. M. Heaton 

do 

E. O. Murray 



Sec.lO,T.7N.,R.12W. 



1904 
1903 



1902 
1896 



Bachert. 
Doyle. 



do.... 

Lancaster. 

do.... 



4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 

do , 

2^ inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
3^ inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 

do 

4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 



150 

135-150. 



250, 300 A . 



150, 180 A. 
235,265 A. 



1906 
1883 



4 inches inside 
diameter , 
bcred. 



235, 240 A. 



450. 



C.H. Bachert. 
D. S. Menzies. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



1896 



S.E. Heaton... 

Carter, sr. 

Carter 



do... 

do... 

L. Perez. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



3| inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

Bored 



B. F.Carter.... 
Mrs. Clara Kerr. 



Mrs. Story . 

Reynolds. 



J. A. Varela... 

do 

do 

A. V. Oldham. 

do 

Wm. Radloff.. 



.do. 

.do. 

.do. 
.do. 

.do. 

.do. 

.do. 



4 inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 



7 surface water; 
215 A. 



1908 

1907 
1896 



1897 
1897 



170 A. 



Sec.9,T.7N.,R.12W. 



1905 



Lancaster. 



1904 



Ling. 



Henry Brown 

J. R.Robinson 



Sec.21,T.7N.,R.12W. 
Sec.l6,T.7N.,R.12W. 



3 inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

4 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

3 inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

2 inches inside 

diameter , 

bored. 
4i inches inside 

diameter , 

bored. 
5f inches inside 

diameter , 

bored. 

4 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Dug 



220, 280 A. 



160 A. 



235-285. 
39 



.do. 



.do. 



1903 
1905 



4§ inches outside 
diameter , 
bored. 

-...do 



WELL. DATA. 
Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



87 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


. Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 


Quantity 
of water 
available. 


Use of water. 


Total 
solids 
(parts 
per 
mil- 
lion). 


Remarks. 


(?) 








Not used 




Not on map. 


Artesian 






1 inch 




210 

252 
221 
209 

249 
178 


Wind 








Domestic and ir- 
rigation. 
Irrigation 

do 




Centrifugal?, 14 
h. p. gas. 

A rtAsian . 






12-1- inches E.... 
2 inches 










do 






3 inches 


do 


Log. 

Do 


do 






IJ inches 




do 






14 inches 

2 Inches R 


Irrigation 

. ...do 


1 

188 i Irrigates 6i acres 
' alfalfa and 1 acre 
i orchard. 

203 1 


do 






do 


$175.00 




8 inches R; 3.2 
inches. 

3 inches R; — 1 

inch. 
4J Inches 

2i inches R; 2i 
inches. 


do 


197 

198 
204 

202 




do 






Log (see Lancaster 
map). 


do 


190.00 




Irrigation 




do 






do 










do 








Domestic 

Domestic and ir- 
rigation. 

do 


190 
194 

186 




do 






2 -1- inches 

1 inch 


Log. 


do 






do 








Domestic 




do 








.do 


203 
194 




do 












do 






4 inches 






do 






5 inches R; 4^ 
inches. 


Domestic 


i97 


Log. 

In small cement res- 


do 






do 






3 inches E 

IJ inches 


Domestic and ir- 
rigation. 


198 

198 
209 


ervoir. 


do 








do 






5 inches R; 3 
inches. 

—1 inch 






do 










2i-inch centrifu- 
gal, 2ih. p. gas. 

Artesian 






— 3 inches 


Irrigation 


186 










do 






22 inches E 

Good 


Irrigation 


205 
199 
193 
232 




do 








do 






— 7 inches 


Domestic 

...do 


Not on map. 
Do. 


Wind 






Artesian; centrif- 
ugal, 8 h.p. gas. 
Artesian 












227.50 
162.60 




16 inches 

6 inches 


Irrigation 






do 




do 







88 WATER RESOURCES OF ANTELOPE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. 

Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



No. of 
well. 


Owner. 


Location. 


Year 
com- 
pleted. 


Class of well. 


Depth to water 
(feet.) 


Depth 
ofwell 
(feet). 


321 


J, R. Robinson 

Mrs. Dahl... 


Sec.l6,T.7N.,R.12W. 










322 


do 










323 


George A. Lutz 


do 




3 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 


100 


135 

250 
150 

140 


324 


W. P. Sears 


..do 


1903 


130,180A 


325 


George Lutz 


do 


3^ inches inside 
diameter , 
bored. 

do 


326 


B. Rozenski 


do 






327 


C. I. Dunsmoor 


do 








329 


Hamilton. . . 


Sec.l8,T.7N.,R.12W. 




4 inches outside. 

diameter, 

bored. 
3 inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 
4i- inches inside 

diameter, 

bored. 




270 


330 


do 






331 


Lancaster School. . 
do 


Lancaster 






600 


332 


do 






333 


0. S. Buckley 


..do 


1906 


4 inches inside 
diameter. 




287 


334 


Crocker 


do 




335 


Howard Jones 


do 


1902 


3i inches, bored . 




135 
135 


336 


do 


do 


do 




337 


A.V.Oldham 


do 








338 


do 


do 










339 


H. D. Vreeland.... 


do 


1902 


3^ inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 


120 A . 


150 

160 
335 
170 
370 

240 


340 


do 


do 


120 A 


341 


Wm. Jones 


do 






170,300 


342 


do 


do 






160 A? 


343 


Tunnison . . . 


do 


1904 


4 inches inside 
diameter, 
bored. 

Driven 


235 A 


344 


Vance 


do 




345 




do 








346 


Show? 


do.. 










347 


(?) 


do 










348 


Knecht 


do 










349 


(?) 


do 










350 


F. H. Robinson.. . 


do 






290 


300 


351 


do 


do 




Bored 




352 


Adams 


do 


1896 
1896 


4 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 
3 inches outside 

diameter, 

bored. 




291 
264 


353 


T.V. Rockabrand. 


do 











WETJj DATA. 
Wells of Antelope Valley region — Continued. 



89 



Method of lift. 


Cost of 
well. 


Cost 
of ma- 
chinery. 


Quantity 
of water 
available. 


Use of water. 


Total 

solids 
(partes 
per 
mil- 
lion). 


Remarks. 


Artesian 






8 Inches S 




206 
210 




do 






t) inches E 






do . 






18 inches 






do 






14 inches R 






' 


do 






7 inches 




193 




do 






6.J inches S 






do 








Stock 


198 
219 

223 




do 






i inch E 




Abandoned. 


do 






Very slight 






do 






9 inches E 




Not on map. 
Do. 


do 










279 
204 


do 






7 inches 


Domestic and ir- 
rigation. 


Do. 


do 








Do. 


do 








Irrigation 


183 


Do, 


do 








Do. 


do 












Do. 


do 










223 

182 


Do. 


do 


$97.55 




4 inches E 




Do. 


Artesian, wind . . 




— 3 Inches 




Do. 


Artesian 




4 + inches 




200 ± 
200± 




do 






1 inch 




Not on map. 
Do. 


do 






7 inches R 




do 

do 






5 inches R 






Do. 








New black smith 


do 










shop; not on map. 
Not on map. 


do 


1 1 






Do. 


do 


1 1 






Do. 


do 










Do. 


do 






2 inches 







Do. 


do 


150.00 




2\ inches R ... 







Do. 


do 




4 inches R 






Do. 


do 






(?) 






Not on map, log. 















INDEX. 



A. Page. 

Acknowledgments to those aiding 9 

Agricult lire, character and extent of 19 

development of 67-G8 

Alkali, formation of 57-58, G8 

neutralization of 57 

Amargosa Creek, description of 13 

Anteloj)e Buttes, springs at 52 

Antelope Valley, development of 8 

location and extent of 7 

Artesian springs, description of 47-ol 

Artesian waters, abuse of 6(>-67 

area of 45-46 

definition of . .^ 44, 67 

development of 62-63 

distribution and character of 45-51 

exhaustion of ; 61 

laws concerning 67 

origin of 36-37 

figure showing 36 

B. 

Barren Spring, description of 54 

Barstow, rainfall at 16-17, 31 

Buckhorn Springs, description of 47-48 

structure at, figure showing 48 

Buttes, distribution of 10 

C. 

Cameron, wells at, data on 82-83 

Casing , insertion of, plate showing 62 

Cement, manufacture of 19-20 

Clays, character of 20 

Climate, character of 14-18 

Coleman's ranch, wells on 42, 65 

wells on, data on 78-79,82-83 

Cottonwood Creek, description of 13 

Croswell Springs, description of 52-53 

structure of, figure showing 52 

D. 

Dahl's ranch, springs on 54 

Del Sur, wells near 43 

Desert, Mohave, true value of 7 

Divides, position of 10-11 

Drainage, description of 10-14, 32 

map showing 8 

Drilling, processes of, plate showing 62 

E. 

Elizabeth Lake, description of 14 

Erosion, character of 27-29 

Esperanza, wells near 42-43 

F. 

Fairmount, wells near 37 

Fans, alluvial, distribution and character of. 27-29 

figure showing 28 

formation of 28-29 

plate showing 30 



Page. 

Faulting, evidence of 20-22, 25 

figure showing 22 

Fish Creek, description of 13 

Flow, diminution of 12 

Flowing wells, area of 45-46 

G. 

Game, character of 18 

Geier's ranch, springs at 55 

Geology, description of 20-31 

Gerblick Springs, description of 53-54 

structure of, figure showing 54 

Gold, occurrence of 19 

Granitic rocks, description of 22-24 

Gravels, structure of 30 

structure of, plate showing 30 

thickness of 24 

water in 23 

Ground water, occurrence and character of. . 51-52 

Gypsum, utilization of 19 

H. 

Hamlin, H., on faulting 21 

Healthfulness, ideal character of 18 

Hughes Lake, description of 14 

Hydrographic map of Antelope Valley... Pocket. 

I. 

Indian Springs, description of 49 

Irrigation, crops grown by 19 

K. 

Keeves ranch, spring at 54 

L. 

Lancaster, spring near 48 

wells near 39-41 

map showing 41 

Lava, distribution and character of 25-26 

Lakes, location of 10, 14 

La Liebre ranch, spring at 55 

Lancaster, wells at, data on 80-83, 86-89 

wells at, sections of, plate showing 40 

Limestone, utilization of 19 

Little Bear Valley, rainfall in 15, 31-32 

Little Cottonwood Creek, description of 13 

Little Oak Creek, description of 13 

Little Rock, development at 34-35 

Little Rock Creek, description of 12 

development on 33-35 

flow of 35 

Livsey Creek, description of 13 

Lovejoy Springs, description of 52-53 

structure at, figure showing 52 

M. 

Manzana, rainfall at 15 

Map, character of 9,68 

of Antelope Valley Pocket. 

of Southern California 8 

91 



92 



INDEX. 



Page. 
Marigold ranch, wells on 65 

wells on, data on 70-71 

Metamorphic rocks, description of 22-24 

Midway oil district, cloudburst in, effects of, 

view of 18 

Miller, Oliver, ranch of, wells near 39 

ranch of, wells near, data on 76-77 

Mineralization of water, character of 56-59 

character of, analyses showing 56-57 

origin of 55-56 

Mohave, rainfall at 16-17,31 

temperature at 17 

Mohave Desert, true character of 7 

Mohave River, view on 18 

Moody Springs, description of 53 

Mulford Spring, description of 55 

N. 

Neenach, water supply of 55 

Newquist ranch springs, description of 54 

O. 

Oban, wells near 43, 46 

wells near, data on 82-S3 

Oil, nonexistence of 61 



Pallett Creek, flow of 33 

Palmdale, rainfall at 15 

wells near 43 

data on 74-75 

Palmdale reservoir, description of 14 

developments at 33-34 

rainfall at 15 

view of 42 

Phosphates, occurrence of 20 

Physiography, description of 20-22 

figure showing 22 

Playas, description of : 14,31 

Pollution of water, occurrence of 59 

Post ranch, map of 64 

wells on 42,63-65 

data on 72-77,84-85 

Pumping, development of 9,63 

R. 
Rainfall, influence of 31-32 

records of 14-17 

Redman's ranch, wells near 38,46 

wells near, data on 78-79 

Reid ranch, wells on 39 

wells on, data on 72-73,84-85 

Reservoirs, construction of 63 

Rhyolite, distribution and character of 26 

Rock Creek, description of 12 

developments on 32-33 

flow of 33 

Rocks, nonwater bearing, description of 22-26 

Rocks, water bearing, description of 27-31 

structure of 30 

Rosamond, wells near 37-38 

wells near, data on 84-85 

Rosamond Buttes, drainage near 

S. 

San Andreas fault, course of 

gravels at 

view of 



13 

21 

44 

, 42 

San Bernardino Range, structure of 20-21 



Page. 
Sand dunes, distribution and character of. . . 30-31 

Sand Hnis, gravels at 44 

San Gabriel Range, rocks of 24 

structure of 20-31 

Sedimentary deposits, character of 27-29 

structure of 30 

Sedimentary rocks, imaltered, distribution 

and character of 25 

Settlements, distribution and character of . . . 9 

Sierra Madre, rocks of 23 

Simmons's ranch, spring at 54-55 

SoUs, character of . ,. 29 

South Antelope Valley Irrigation Co., devel- 
opments by 33-34 

Springs, artesian, description of 47-51 

location of, determination of 21 

Springs, bedrock, description of 53-55 

Springs, nonartesian, distribution and charac- 
ter of 52-53 

Streams, development of 22-35 

disappearance of 12 

flow of 32,33,35 

Structure, description of 20-22 

figures showing 22 

Structure, alluvial, character of 30 

plate showing 30 

T. 

Tehachapi, rainfall at 17,31 

Tehachapi Range, rocks of. 23 

springs on 53 

structure of 20,21-22 

Temperature, records of 17 

Tierra Seca Creek, description of 13 

Topography, character of 10 

Towns, abandonment of 8 

Travertine, deposition of 57 

U. 

Underground waters, development of 62-68 

fallacies concerning 5^61 

occiu'rence of 36-89 

figure showing 36 

origin of 36-37, 5^61 

quality of 55-59 

V. 

Vegetation, character of 18-19 

Volcanic ash, use of 20 

Volcanic rocks, distribution and character of. 25-26 

structure of, figure showing 26 

W. 

Water level, variations in 46-47 

Water resources, description of 31-89 

Water supply, limitations of 8 

use of 9 

Water witch, delusion of 61 

Well owners, list of 70-88 

Wells, cost of 63 

data on 37-44,62-66,70-89 

development of 63-66 

drilling of, plate showing 62 

Willow Springs, springs near 49-51 

structure of, figure sho-wing 49 

wells near 37 

Wind, force of 18 



O 



:.- ^'?r-iS 4»"J9(*»'* 




RECONNAISSANCE HYDROGRAPHIC MAP OF ANTELOPE VALLEY RE(JION, CALIFORNIA 

BY HARllY B. JOHNSON 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



019 953 820 2 



>^.* 



= V- 



-^ \ V 



-ir- ' 



^^RiaB 



IM^- 



■Z?^ 





r.,..i;i 



, ' "". ■'.'• jj/ ^-''I'^r*?^ 

1. .^v.-'/ t^.'* - .iM 



*^9\ 'J 







.wl 




